Preemptive ct scan

[jakesmith]

Swimbo has 4x impacted wisdom teeth. Dentist has suggested having private ct scan in London as they don’t have a XR scanner, for £200, so that if they ever get infected, and need to extract in an emergency, they will know the exact position of the nerve on the bottom jaw and can extract them there as she won’t have to go somewhere with a ct scanner. Apparently they can’t extr them there without a ct scan.

I had 2 upper wisdom teeth out at the same place and didn't mention or need a XR scan

What’s the story? She has good dental hygiene. Surely if she needs them out, she can just go somewhere that can extract them and has a ct scanner as and when?

[CAPP0]

I have an ongoing health issue (not dental) and one option for investigation is a CT scan. However my GP is trying very hard to find other means of diagnosis because, he says, CT scans deliver a “massive” dose of radiation and he wants to avoid putting me through that if at all possible. Another healthcare professional concurred with that view.

If your missus needs one and there’s no alternative then so be it but maybe worth considering the above.

HTH.

[sawman]

Doesnt seem much point imaging on a pre emptive basis. Basic rule of radiography is “will this test influence the current treatment” even more so with head ct, due to large x ray dose on relatively susceptible body part.

Sounds more like “my brother in maw has a ct machine thats a bit quiet”

[Riley Blue]

CAPP0 said:

I have an ongoing health issue (not dental) and one option for investigation is a CT scan. However my GP is trying very hard to find other means of diagnosis because, he says, CT scans deliver a “massive” dose of radiation and he wants to avoid putting me through that if at all possible. Another healthcare professional concurred with that view.

If your missus needs one and there’s no alternative then so be it but maybe worth considering the above.

HTH.

O/H had a chest and abdomen CT scan a couple of weeks ago. The information sheet advises that she received 8 mSv, the equivalent to 3.6 years background radiation (chest) and 10 mSv, 4.5 years background radiation (abdomen). What figures have you been given?

[GordonL]

As a dentist, it doesn’t make much sense to me, you’d want an up to date image before doing the extractions so one from possibly 2 years or more earlier would not be ideal.
Infected wisdom teeth can usually be managed by a simple antibiotic so no need for “emergency” extraction.