Reducing radiation exposure at dentist

STRATFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- A new technology has been created to reduce your risk of radiation exposure at your dentist office. Now a Stratford Dentist is taking radiation safety one step further.

The latest technology is offered at the Brush and Floss Dental Center in Stratford and everything is digital. It's all part of the ALARA principle embraced by Dr. Jeffrey Hoos.

"What it stands for, as low as reasonably acceptable and it's related to radiation. What's the minimum amount of radiation that we can use to get a diagnostic film," said Dr. Hoos.

"When we go to the dentist office and they ask if they can to take x-rays every year or two and everybody is running away as the x-ray is being snapped, you wonder what you're being left with," said Dr. Jeff Kaplain a patient.

Patients like Dr. Jeff Kaplan are not too concerned. Radiation safety is followed closely at Brush and Floss Dental Center.

"We know that if we go up into an airplane we receive a tremendous amount of radiation, much more than coming to the dentist but we want to again, lower our dosage, lower our exposure," said Dr. Hoos.

To minimize exposure even more...

"The thought is that we know radiation is accumulative, that you're radiation exposure builds up over time," said Dr. Hoos.

Dr. Hoos has helped to further develop a targeted dental x-ray radiation tool.  
  
"And now we've columnated it down to a rectangular size," said Dr. Hoos.

Compared to the conventional way, illustrated by using a flashlight

"Very pinpointed here, less clear, less clear and less clear," said Dr. Hoos.

"So this is the overexposure," asked News 8's Jocelyn Maminta.

"So this is the noise or the overexposure of the old way," said Dr. Hoos.

The new way, a more precise radiation as shown in the animation provided by HealthFirst. It also enables a dentist to get the picture right the first time, meaning there are no do-overs.

"When we use this technology so that we absolutely are pinpointing the beam with laser accuracy, we are reducing our radiation by 80 percent," said Dr. Hoos.

For more information, visit www.bettersmile.com , www.dentalexplorations.com or www.idixray.com .