Antepartum Dental Radiography and Low Birth Weight

Assessment of radiology baseline knowledge of freshman North American dental students prior to any formal instruction

“…For question 5, of 139 responses, 48 said “Yes” (35%) and the remaining 91 said “No” (65%). The published research for and against this topic eventually led to the conclusion that dental radiographs, especially bitewings, taken during pregnancy have no significant effect on the development of foetus, prematurity or its birth weight 8–10 . Both questions 3 and 5 were designed to get the responses from the prior knowledge for radiation protection for expectant women both in the early stages of their pregnancy, which is even more important and then when the patients come back for dental care during the rest of the pregnancy and this was to test the knowledge/perception linking dental radiation to the foetal birth weight and premature delivery as was publicised in the press, again in the form of a myth.…”

Maternal dental history, child's birth outcome and early cognitive development

“…The study by Hujoel et al 22 . was criticised for lack of adjustment for key covariates and for crude quantification of radiation dose based on the number of X‐rays – which leads to the conclusion that a stronger association existed with higher radiation, especially in the first trimester 24–27 …”

Commentary on JAMA article by Hujoel et al.

“…Welsh (2004) was concerned that Huojel et al did not control for maternal weight gain. Lockhart and Ludlow (2004) were concerned that the very low exposure assumed by Hujoel et al was even lower. None of the published letters-to-the-editor concerning the Hujoel et al publication addressed the most serious deficiencies in the paper; namely, the extensive human and animal literature refutes the claims of the authors that the radiation exposure received during dental radiography has the potential for producing fetal growth retardation or any other developmental effect.…”