### Is Wearing a Lead Apron Necessary During Routine Dental X-Rays? Recent findings by a professional dental radiology group suggest that wearing a heavy lead apron during routine dental X-rays is no longer necessary. Modern dental X-ray technology has become much safer, significantly reducing the risk of exposure to what scientists call “external radiation scatter.” This means that the potential exposure of other body parts to radiation is no longer a health threat. The American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology recently published these recommendations in The Journal of the American Dental Association. Dental X-rays have been a standard practice for about 70 years, helping dental providers detect tooth decay, bone and gum disease, infections, and tumors. The new guidelines examined the risk of thyroid cancer from dental X-rays and the potential impact on pregnant individuals and their unborn babies. According to Aruna Ramesh, DMD, a professor and associate dean at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, scientific literature shows that the lead apron and thyroid collar do not provide any additional benefit. The radiation dose that pregnant individuals are exposed to would need to be 10,000 to 30,000 times higher to potentially harm an unborn baby. Despite these findings, wearing the apron will likely continue for now because it offers dental patients a sense of protection. Hugo Campos, DMD, DDS, an associate professor at Tufts, noted that the lead apron plays an important role in the psychology of patients. Additionally, state laws typically require the use of lead aprons, and changing these regulations to reflect the new recommendations is expected to be a slow process. Interestingly, ditching the lead apron could actually reduce radiation exposure. Sometimes, the apron’s collar can interfere with getting a clear shot, requiring a second take and thus doubling the radiation exposure. Preserving the quality of the images is the best way to protect patients, according to Campos.