However, the ADA does suggest that patients with recurrent cavities and other complicated problems have x-rays taken once or twice a year. The interval for a person with optimal dental health can safely be two to three years, according to the ADA. Then you may be wondering if dental x-rays are safe. The short answer is: “Yes, dental x-rays are safe and often extremely beneficial to oral health.
The risk of a single dental x-ray is very small. However, some studies show a slight increase in the risk of cancer, even with low levels of radiation exposure, especially in children. To be safe, we do everything we can to keep radiation exposure as low as possible. 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.
Basically, while dental x-rays expose you to certain radiation, the benefits of doing them outweigh the risks. Dentists or dental hygienists place a lead apron over the patient's chest that blocks most (90-95%) of X-ray radiation. Dental x-rays are used to diagnose diseases affecting teeth and bones, since the inside of these structures is not seen when dentists they look at his mouth. You should first talk to your dentist to discuss any concerns or questions related to dental x-rays.
If a dental hygienist is cleaning your teeth, the dentist may review the x-ray results after the cleaning is done. Many people think x-rays are dangerous, but x-rays are among the safest and most reliable imaging technologies today. Dental x-rays are an important part of every dentist's toolkit for detecting cavities and other problems in a patient's mouth. To put dental x-rays into perspective, let's compare them to other environmental sources of radiation.
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. 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. Children may need to have dental x-rays more often than adults because their dentists may need to monitor the growth of their adult teeth. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, dental care, including dental x-rays, is safe during pregnancy.
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. A dental chart, also called a periodontal table, is where your dental health professional records the condition of your teeth and gums. Dental x-rays (x-rays) are images of your teeth that your dentist uses to evaluate your oral health.
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