2007-01-25 09:25:26 · 15 answers · asked by jon r 1 in Health ➔ Dental
Because it is unnecessary to expose the rest of your body to the radiation being emitted. The amount of radiation emitted in one x-ray is not harmful, however, it is still a precautionary measure.
2007-01-25 09:30:56 · answer #1 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
X-Rays can hurt cells. They are needed too, and there is a choice made that the help is better than the hurt. But the apron protects parts of you that are not being looked at from being hurt by the X-Rays. The part of you being looked at is hurt which is expressed in a linear probability model. Linear means that the harm is real no matter how small the dose of radiation, but don't worry. The model states that for a total exposure of 25 Siemens radiation, one cancer will occur. But don't worry, the dose you get is so small you don't need to worry. You need to add up thousands of people to equal 25 Siemens of radiation and you share the risk with everyone. But because the linear model one person in the group who get the radiation will get cancer.
X-Rays are photons, like light and radio waves. Radio waves have very long wavelengths and X-Rays rays have very short wavelengths. The shorter the wavelength the more energy it has when it is stopped by something, like a tooth. When they are stopped they transfer their energy. When they have a lot of energy and hit a cell DNA they can hurt the cell.
2007-01-25 17:44:53 · answer #2 · answered by Ron H 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
JON, THIS IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
X-RAYS ARE KNOWN AS IONIZING RADIATION. THE X-RAYS ARE ABSORBED BY THE TISSUES OF THE BODY. A LEAD APRON ABSORBS THE X-RAYS AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE PARTS OF THE BODY THAT ARE COVERED TO ABSORB ANY X-RAYS. MOSTLY THEY'RE THERE TO PROTECT THE SEXUAL ORGANS.
THE EXPOSURE TO RADIATION SHOULD BE AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. ACTUALLY YOU GET MORE RADIATION FLYING ON A PLANE FROM NY TO LA THAN IN A COMPLETE SET OF DENTAL X-RAYS.
2007-01-25 18:20:17 · answer #3 · answered by Dr. Albert, DDS, (USA) 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The purpose of the lead apron is to reduce the somatic exposure of radio sensitive tissues and minimize genetic exposure to the reproductive organs. In the head and neck region the most radio sensitive tissues are the thyroid and salivary glands and the tissues of the bone marrow located in the mandible and the sternum. Because of the nature of the panoramic exposure, both the salivary glands and mandible are irradiated; therefore the role of the lead apron is to provide maximum shielding of the remaining radiosensitive organs.
2007-01-25 17:34:18 · answer #4 · answered by Chris 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
all x-rays emmit radiation therefore whenever you are getting an x-ray be it dental or by a GP you ned a lead vest to protect from the radiation
2007-01-25 17:30:48 · answer #5 · answered by Enigma 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lead stops the radiation from going where its not needed.
2007-01-25 17:32:52 · answer #6 · answered by reikigirl8 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Any additional radiation is a bad thing. it is for your protection from what is called Compton's scatter radiation. if you are young or in child bearing years it is highly recommended that you are shielded from unwanted rays. Genitalia is highly susceptible to radiation.
2007-01-25 17:32:24 · answer #7 · answered by Smax 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
to protect you from the radiation emitted from the X-ray.
2007-01-25 17:39:32 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it helps to absorb some of the radiation
2007-01-25 17:30:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It keeps your whooter for getting scorched.
2007-01-25 18:15:24 · answer #10 · answered by Big D 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋