Dental x - rays

The Center for Dental Health in DC announces the arrival of the Iluma, a state-of-the-art CT scan that produces the most advanced 3-D X-ray images yet that allow instant diagnosis and treatment planning, right in the office.

Psoriasis - Skin disorder

Physicians usually diagnose psoriasis by visual inspection.

This involves the information of the skin, scalp, fingernails and toenails for reddening or scaling skin that is characteristic of psoriasis.

Small pits on the fingernails are also signs of psoriasis.

A skin biopsy, or scraping and culture of skin patches, may be needed to rule out other disorders.

In psoriasis, the examination will usually show proliferation of dry skin cells, but may not show signs of inflammation. Changes in the nails are often strong indicators of psoriasis.

If joint pain is present, an x-ray may be used to check for psoriatic arthritis.

X rays during early pregnancy ??

X-rays can harm an unborn baby.

If a baby receives more than 5,000 millirads of radiation from x-rays before birth, the baby might have birth defects.

The x-rays might cause leukemia.

Most x-rays give much smaller doses of radiation than this.

For example, during an x-ray of the legs, only 1 millirad is absorbed.

Although only a small amount of radiation may be absorbed, x-rays should be avoided, especially in early pregnancy.

This is why x-ray technologists may ask when you had your last menstrual period before taking an x-ray.

X-ray studies are done during pregnancy only in urgent cases.

For example, you may have an x-ray if you have a broken bone, to check for pneumonia, or to look for kidney stones.

When taking an x-ray, the technologist should put a lead apron over you to protect the baby.

However, this may not be possible if the apron will interfere with the necessary views (for example, x-rays of the chest).

Ultrasound machines do not use radiation. Often an ultrasound scan can be done instead of an x-ray.