UW study found that dental X-Rays were tied to low birth weight

[Emily]

http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20040427/dental-x-rays-tied-to-low-birth-weight

Dental X-Rays Tied to Low Birth Weight
Experts Say Danger Occurs Before a Woman Knows She's Pregnant
By Sid Kirchheimer
WebMD Health News

April 27, 2004 -- Getting dental X-rays during pregnancy might increase the risk of delivering a low birth-weight baby, new research shows.

After adjusting for other possible causes of low birth-weight babies, such as maternal smoking, University of Washington scientists found that exposure to four "bitewing" dental X-rays more than doubles a woman's risk of having a baby weighing less than 5.5 pounds. And more X-ray exposure, such as full-mouth dental X-rays, increases the risk even more.....

....He notes that his study is now the third to show a possible connection between low birth-weight babies and low-dose radiation. And one of the theories is that the danger comes from radiation exposure to the woman's thyroid, pituitary, or hypothalamus glands -- rather than radiation directly to the fetus or woman's reproductive organs. These glands produce the hormones necessary for pregnancy and normal fetal development. In his current study, Hujoel looked at thyroid radiation exposure rather than radiation exposure to the fetus and the woman's reproductive organs. ....

 

[kiwibird]

Re: UW study found that dental X-Rays were tied to low birth weight

Could I just throw an aside in here - perhaps it is because you need multiple dental x-rays - ie. cavities - that you might have a low birth weight baby. If you can't eat properly you are not going to nourish your baby properly. Just a thought. :twocents:

Thanks Emily - thought provoking as usual

 

[Emily]

Re: UW study found that dental X-Rays were tied to low birth weight

Those sound like good points to me, Kiwibird. I've seen a couple of articles discussing the possibility of gum disease and dental infections being related to low birth weight babies.

I think, (not sure), that the ADA here changed recommendations regarding routine x-rays of pregnant women, but they don't want them to avoid the dentist or needed treatments.