Posting #3
Health
Brain Tumors Linked to Dental X Rays
Elizabeth Landau
April 10th, 2012
CNN
Length of article: 2 pages.
The journal "cancer" published this week the dental X rays have been linked to brain cancer. The specific type of cancer is known as meningioma. The tumors start in the layers of tissue surrounding the brain and put pressure on the brain itself. Generally there is a 20 to 25 year lag time in between radiation exposure and the cancer. Although it has been linked, it cannot be proven that dental xrays do cause cancer. Dentists have spoken against this, saying that the studies were not well done and need further verification. However, radiation is known to cause tumors, so this is not a surprise to many people. Usually, the people who get these tumors are older folks, who were exposed to older technology. When they first came out with dental x rays, the radiation dosage was much higher. The mean age to get this affliction is close to 60, showing that it is much more common in the previous generation then the current one. One reason for this is possibly because people are taking x rays too much. it it recommended that one get their teeth x rayed once every two to three years. Unfortunately, many dentists with try and get people to have thier xrays taken. X rays generally will add a small amount of money to the bill, so dentists prefer this. Hopefully, people will listen and begin to take xrays every few years, instead of taking one whenever they see the dentist. People who have been getting regular x rays cannot do much to help themselves, but this should serve as a warning. Only get x rays when one is actually injured.
It seems reasonable in my opinion that dental X-Rays would lead to brain cancer, and the fact that a study was published is reason to be worried about this fact. Radiation in dental X-Rays could be extremely dangerous, especially if one has X-Rays done too often. I find it ridiculous that dentists would recommend that people get excess X-Rays, simply for their profit, at the cost of their clients' lives.
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