If the x ray gives up its energy to lead atoms in the lead apron, then it is not available to knock electrons around in atoms in your body.
So the lead apron protects people by absorbing the x-ray energy before the x ray can get to the body and start knocking electrons around..
Lead aprons
Lead can effectively attenuate certain kind of radiations because of its high density and high atomic number (82); principally, it is effective at stopping gamma rays and X-rays..
Dental lead aprons are medical protective garments used to shield patients from radiation exposure.
The apron is made with a thin rubber material on its outside and a lead lining inside.
It protects the abdomen and torso during dental X-rays..
Lead aprons are one of the key parts of personal radiation protection equipment along with lead gloves, lead glasses, and thyroid shields. 0.35 mm lead equivalent aprons are also in use, with performance between the 0.25 and 0.5 mm lead equivalent aprons..
In plain language, they haven't found that x-rays cause genetic mutations or diseases, and the risk of thyroid cancer is very low, so they recommend that dental professionals stop using lead aprons and thyroid collars.Sep 5, 2023.
Standard lead apron must provide at least 0.5 mm of lead or equivalent structural barriers (ie, a 0.2 mm lead equivalent = 1.2 mm of steel, 2.5 mm of glass, 5.9 mm of gypsum, 33 mm of wood).
Lead aprons of 0.5 mm thickness have been shown to shield approximately 99% of potential radiation dose..
Any lead apron placed too high up on the neck of the patient will block out important diagnostic information of the mandible.
The lead apron worn during a panoramic exposure should be double sided unlike the single sided lead aprons used during intraoral exposures..
With well-designed and optimized equipment and procedures there is no need for routine use of lead aprons for the patient in dental radiology
Lead aprons may provide some protection in the rare case of the vertex occlusal examination, especially in a patient who is, or may be, pregnant
Lead shielding can only decrease external scattered radiation
When using a lead apron for pediatric chest CT, the mean percentage dose reduction outside the region scanned is approximately 19
1%, 10 1%, and 43% at 1, 5, and 10 cm from the edge of the scan, respectively
State laws and regulations set specific requirements for the use of ionizing radiation as well as rules for patient safety, so be sure to check your state requirements before ditching your lead aprons
I reached out to my state board of dentistry in Virginia and was passed on to the Office of Radiologic Health
