Lead aprons not necessary for patients during X-rays, says largest U.S. dental group
Lead aprons and vests aren't necessary for patients during X-rays, according to new safety guidelines from the American Dental Association.
Since the 1920s, lead vests and aprons have served as trusted shields against the harmful effects of X-rays for radiologists, technicians, and patients. But new safety guidelines from the American Dental Association (ADA) call for discontinuing their use among patients, both because X-ray technology has evolved significantly over the years, and because there are better ways to reduce patients’ exposure to radiation, such as using digital as opposed to conventional X-ray film.
Other medical organizations have been making similar points for some time. In 2019, the American Associations of Physicists in Medicine concluded that the use of patient lead aprons should be discontinued as they were both unnecessary for safety and had the potential to jeopardize the quality of images. In 2021, the American College of Radiology also recommended discontinuing lead shielding.
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