Radiation Effects Jenan AlKeswani Professor Maria Bilello What

Radiation Effects Jenan Al-Keswani Professor Maria Bilello

What is Radiation? Radiation is the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles that can cause ionization Radiation is considered a teratogen. Teratogens have the ability to create congenital malformations in a developing embreyo or fetus Teratogens: Drugs, chemicals, and infections.

When Can Radiation Affect a Developing Fetus? If the mother has been exposed to high levels of ionizing radiation even before she was pregnant but this radiation was able to create a change in the genetic composition of her eggs in the ovaries, the baby will be affected. If a mother is pregnant and her abdomen and fetus is exposed to radiation, the rapidly growing cells can be changed. Incidence of severe malformation anywhere in the body including the oral cavity, it just depends on where the ionization effects took place in the fetus.

How can Radiation Affect a Developing Fetus? Birth defects such as : Polydactyly (additional finger or toe) Syndactyly (fusion of finger and toes) Cancer Miscarriage in early pregnancy Growth retardation Severe Nuerological retardation

Radiation Affecting Oral Cavity Study done of atomic bomb survivors and their children showed that a great number of children had Underdeveloped Jaw Cleft Palate Cleft Lip with or without cleft palate

How Can the Dental Team Help? Like we have stated before, a result of radiation can affect the nuerological function of a person so when someone like this is presented to a dental hygienist, we must always be kind and nice and understand that nuerological dysfunction can have social, physical, and psychological consweuences. They may not know how to interact with people and their dental and oral health may not be the first thing on their mind. They also may be afraid of the dentist so dental personnel should know how to communicate and treat a patient that has anxiety during a visit.

How else can the dental team help? Provide the same amount of care and fairness to every individual Understand educate ones self about the condition (cleft palate) and how best to make the visit one of benefit to the patient Perform services for the good of the patient Protect sensitive information Educate patient on how oral health can effect overall health Work as a team with all dental personnel and the pateint