Sir, I was privileged to treat a young lady last week who was born profoundly deaf in both ears. Fortunately, she has been successfully treated with bilateral cochlear implants and speech processors. Before taking bite wing radiographs she asked if she was 'OK with X-rays?' I 'googled' the subject and discovered that the speech processors should be kept at least 50 cm away and preferably out of the room when radiographic examinations are undertaken. There is a website (www.bcig.org.uk) where a 'safety document' can be ordered. I wonder if other dental professionals are aware of this problem and should it be circulated to a greater extent within the profession as more of these implants procedures are carried out?
1. Cheshire
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Harrison, S. Patient safety: Cochlear implants. Br Dent J 219, 98 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2015.600
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2015.600
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