Answer to Question #15377 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Medical and Dental Patient Issues — Dental

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

Q

Is it safe for the dentist office personnel to hold the x-ray tube while making exposures? My dental hygienist held the tube recently while making my x rays. I am concerned. 

A

Handheld dental x-ray equipment has become common in dental offices. The equipment has been designed to emit a narrow beam of low dose radiation and can expose patients to the same or lower radiation compared to the wall-mounted units. There is a shield to protect the operator from scattered radiation, so it is safe when used properly. The Food and Drug Administration has approved a few handheld dental x-ray models because they can be safe and create quality images, and many states allow the use of handheld dental x rays as long as the proper safety procedures are followed.

Answer posted on 2 July 2024. The information posted on this web page is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may affect the applicability of concepts, materials, and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice. To the best of our knowledge, answers are correct at the time they are posted. Be advised that over time, requirements could change, new data could be made available, and Internet links could change, affecting the correctness of the answers. Answers are the professional opinions of the expert responding to each question; they do not necessarily represent the position of the Health Physics Society.