Category: Patient Care

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Things to Be Done Before Undergoing a Radiology Screening

If you need a radiology screening in the future, you’ll be pleased to know that routine x-rays generally don’t require any special type of preparation. However, there are a couple of types of studies which are more complex and which may require a bit more preparation. If it’s a basic x-ray procedure, you will probably be asked to avoid wearing jewelry or having anything metal on your person. Metal does interfere with x-ray pictures. As well, you may be asked to skip the body creams, powders and deodorants on your appointment day.

Also, you should let your doctor know if you’re expecting a baby. Radiation may trigger birth defects, so it’s important to share this information.

It’s also important to let your physician know if you’ve reacted badly to contrast material previously

What Happens During the Exams

There are a lot of different types of radiology screening examinations. The process that happens during the exam will vary based on the examination type. When you arrive for your appointment (you may be instructed to come early, such as an hour or half an hour early), you might be told to put on a smock or gown. After you do, you’ll be introduced to your x-ray technician. This person has special training and he or she will be able to assist you throughout your exam.

There are a few different medical professionals that work in this field. One is a radiologist and he or she is a physician who is trained to image the bodies of patients. There are also radiologic technologists and they get x-ray images and operate x-ray/radiology equipment. As well, there are radiologist nurses who monitor vital signs, give medicine and offer other types of health care to patients during their procedures.

After you meet your radiology expert, you’ll be taken to an x-ray room. You’ll be asked to lie down on a table, or stand, or sit. You’ll be placed close to an x-ray machine. It’s possible that a lead apron or other type of shield will be placed over your body in order to keep your organs safe from radiation. Once the x-ray machine starts working, it will take a host of x-rays. At some point during the procedure, you may be asked to change your position. Try to remain still once you’re in position.

What Happens After The Procedure?

After the procedure, you may get dressed in your street clothes (if you are wearing a gown or smock). If there is important information about your x-ray results, it may be shared with you then or later on. As you can see, there’s nothing to be afraid of. You should be provided with full instructions on how to prepare for your radiology screening before it happens.

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Benefits of Utilizing Radiology and Digital X-rays for Patient Diagnosis and Treatment

Radiology and digital x-rays help medical personnel to diagnose health problems in patients and then create appropriate treatment plans. Radiology and digital x-rays give doctors the capacity to look inside of the human body and isolate (or exclude the presence of) a vast assortment of medical issues. Also, dentists use x-rays to find the best ways of helping their patients.

Since radiology and digital X-rays make it possible to diagnose a lot of diseases and dental problems, they are valuable tools. In general, radiation is something that most people are afraid of, unless they know enough about it to understand how various levels of radiation affect the human body. This is why some people are still afraid of radiology and digital x-rays!

Some forms of radiology expose patients to more radiation than others. For example, dental x-rays generally expose patients to the same amount of radiation that they’d be exposed to during short flights on major airline jets. In contrast, with radiation oncology, patients receive radiation in order to treat their cancer health issues. With radiation oncology (radiotherapy), the radiation itself is the treatment. You shouldn’t compare radiology, which is imaging, with radiotherapy, which is cancer treatment. They are very different.

Technology is Moving Forward

When you choose to utilize radiology and digital x-rays in order to better serve the needs of your medical or dental patients, you will gain access to technology which is very advanced. Imaging has come a long way and more advances have been made in this area of health/dental care than in most other facets of medical and dental care. These days, ultra-modern equipment is available which allows practitioners to confirm their diagnoses, manage illnesses and monitor responses to treatments.

Almost everyone in America has gotten benefits from radiology and digital X-rays. For example, a person with a nasty cough might get a basic chest X-ray, whereas someone who got hurt during a game of baseball might have his or her bone “X-rayed”. X-rays have been around since 1895 and CT scans are considered to be one of the key developments in medicine over the past four decades.

Getting great equipment from respected manufacturers and making sure that you implement the best safety measures will be the key to getting going with radiology and digital X-rays. Expect to invest in a range of safety accessories, including lead aprons and thyroid collars. What you’ll need to buy depends on what you’ll be doing with your radiology/digital X-ray equipment.

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Which Safety Measures Are Taken During Dental X-Rays?

Adult Dental Guard w/Sewn in Collar - Feather

Usually, dentists adhere to ADA (American Dental Association) guidelines when they give patients dental X-rays. With this in mind, we’re going to talk about these ADA-recommended safety measures today. Once you’ve read this article, you’ll see that a lot of safety measures are taken. Dentists definitely care about the safety of their patients!

Digital Technology Is Preferred

Top-notch dental clinics will generally utilize cutting-edge digital technology for X-rays. It’s preferred because it’s safer and more effective than the old-fashioned X-ray method, which involves the usage of high-speed film.

As well, great dental clinics will ensure that scheduled maintenance of X-ray machines is conducted. When equipment for taking dental X-rays is in perfect working order, patients are safer.

Some dental clinic staff members help to keep patients safer by utilizing existing X-rays, provided that they are up to date and show accurate visual data. For example, when patients are referred to orthodontists, digital files may be shared with orthodontists in order to remove the necessity for other rounds of X-rays. It’s also common practice that dental clinics reuse X-rays which were taken for other purposes.

Patients Are Shielded From Radiation

Another important facet of safety measures for dental patients who are getting X-rays is the usage of protective devices. For example, patients may be shielded from radiation via lead collars which are very protective, as well as aprons which are also protective.

There are an array of practical ways to protect dental patients. For example, some dental practitioners utilize E-speed films. Others use thyroid collars and/or lead aprons. Most dental clinics feature lead partitions and other clinics utilize a rule known as the “position distance” rule in order to keep patients safe. Also, dental X-ray technicians make an effort to stand at the safest angle to X-ray machines. Less common methods of protecting patients include walls which are leaded and film badges.

Facts About Dental X-rays

When compared with most other types of X-rays, dental X-rays are low-dose in terms of radiation. The amount of radiation that a patient will be exposed to during dental X-rays is roughly the same as the quantity of radiation exposure that a passenger is exposed to during an airplane flight with a duration of one to two hours.

Since dental X-rays don’t expose patients to a lot of radiation, and dentists take care to use safety measures while doing X-rays of patients, there is really nothing for most patients to worry about.