Thyroid Cancer Risk Rises Five Folds with Ten Dental X-Rays

Study researchers have cautioned that getting an annual dental X-ray might drastically augment risk of developing thyroid cancer.

Investigators observed that people who were given dental X-rays a minimum of 10 times had a five folds greater likelihood of developing thyroid cancer. On the basis of this study finding, scientists have raised caveat that X-rays must not be offered during check-up or when a new patient is being registered, in spite of such a practice being prevalent in several dental surgery procedures.

As the number of thyroid cancer cases has doubled in the last three decades, researchers state that the likely threats associated with dental X-ray have mostly been ignored.

Study investigator Dr. Anjum Memon stated that their research has highlighted that similar to the trunk or torso X-ray, prescription of a dental X-ray must be only in the presence of any definite clinical requirement and not to be included along with regular check-ups or during registration with dentists.

Valuable recommendation offered by dental heads is that a patient should ideally shield his/her thyroid (a gland that releases hormone at the neck base) by donning a light-weight lead collar or bib when undergoing X-ray.

The investigators queried over three hundred cancer sufferers and an analogous number of entrants in good health about the number of times they had been X-rayed. It was found that people from both genders that had dental X-ray done around 4 times were over two-folds more prone to have contracted thyroid cancer as compared to those people who had not undergone any X-ray.

The study findings have been printed in the Acta Oncologica journal and states that people who had been X-rayed 5 to 9 times has a 4 folds augmented risk.

Those belonging to the high-risk bracket were people who had 10 or more dental X-rays and the risk was 5.4 folds more as compared to a person who had not been given an X-ray in the dentist’s seat.

The investigators depended on the patient’s memory instead of dental paperwork, however stated that in spite of this, the outcomes hold significant importance.

Dr. Memon from the Brighton and Sussex Medical School explained that the study findings were backed by earlier reports of augmented chances of developing thyroid cancer among people from the dental profession (dentist, dental assistant) and X-ray technicians, indicate that being exposed to several less-dosage X-rays might be detrimental.

Dr. Memon mentioned that it was vital that that research was re-conducted with data from dental paperwork inclusive of the X-ray frequency and dosage when exposed to it.

Dr. Memon who has worked in collaboration with specialists from Kuwait and Cambridge Univ. added that in case their outcomes are corroborated then the usage of X-rays as an essential part of assessment for newly arrived patients and regular periodontal radiography conducted at annually or bi-annually especially for kids and adolescent patients would have to be re-considered and increased usage of lead collars shielding be promoted.

However dentists from Britain have stated that the research was conducted in Kuwait that has much greater prevalence of thyroid cancer cases as compared to the United Kingdom and point out that the investigators are unaware of the kind of X-ray device being deployed.

However, a spokesperson from the British Dental Health Foundation stated that there has been a significant reduction in the number of X-rays that are been taken and the doses from state-of-the-art devices are quite less.

Present recommendation by the British Dental Health Foundation is that thyroid shields are to be employed at all times for shielding from any radiation spreading. Dental X-ray holds a crucial part in identification of any form of dental condition.

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