The risk of a single dental x-ray is very low. However, some studies show a slight increase in the risk of cancer, especially in children. Therefore, it is important to keep radiation exposure as low as possible. Basically, while dental x-rays expose you to certain radiation, the benefits of doing them outweigh the risks.
X-rays are safe for adults and children. Dental professionals are careful to limit radiation exposure to all their patients. Occasionally, alternatives will be used, such as ultrasounds for pregnant women. There are other imaging technologies a dentist can use, but x-rays are among the oldest and most reliable technologies.
Most people get a dose once a year, but certain factors, such as age or a history of gum disease, may require more frequent x-rays. A dental chart, also called a periodontal table, is where your dental health professional records the condition of your teeth and gums. Like brushing your teeth and flossing your teeth, having regular dental x-rays is an integral part of your overall oral health. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, dental care, including dental x-rays, is safe during pregnancy.
Dentists quickly realize that there are multiple sources of radiation in your daily life that expose you to higher levels, over a year, than a dental x-ray. It's not uncommon for patients to try to avoid having dental x-rays out of fear of exposure to radiation. Many improvements have been made to dental x-ray equipment over the years that have substantially improved the level of safety of the procedure. To gain perspective, a single digital dental x-ray has 0.1 mrem of radiation and a set of 4 bites has 0.4 mrem.
There's also no need to delay dental x-rays if you're trying to get pregnant or if you're breastfeeding. X-rays are a very common dental procedure that allows the dentist to look deep inside the gums, including the bones, the roots of the teeth, and through tooth enamel. All of these safety precautions will help minimize radiation levels that are already mild on dental x-rays. Many dental problems are invisible to the naked eye, and x-rays allow the dentist to discover a variety of problems in tooth enamel, gums, and tooth roots.
To put dental x-rays into perspective, let's compare them to other environmental sources of radiation. Many people think x-rays are dangerous, but x-rays are among the safest and most reliable imaging technologies today. Dental x-rays (x-rays) are images of your teeth that your dentist uses to evaluate your oral health.
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