How safe are dental X-rays, and when do they become harmful?

It is relatively normal for your dentist to suggest that you get dental X-rays, even during a routine cleaning.

X-rays are a widespread dental procedure that lets your dentist see deep beneath your gums, even into your bones, to the roots of your teeth, and through your tooth enamel.

But if you know anything about X-rays, you probably know they use radiation to achieve their results, and some people find this quite concerning.

There is much content about radiation’s dangers in movies (Godzilla, anyone?), media, and online.

Is it safe to have dental X-rays taken? “Dental X-rays are safe and frequently very helpful for oral health.”

You are not exposed to a significant amount of radiation.

Dentists quickly note that multiple radiation sources in daily life expose people to higher levels over a year than a dental X-ray.

There are, however, some circumstances in which an X-ray is not recommended.

To ensure your understanding, Ria Family Dental will discuss the radiation dose in X-rays, who should have them, and who might not want them.

How much radiation is in an X-ray?

When X-rays were initially introduced, appropriate safety features and procedures had yet to be devised, and dentists and other professionals were unaware of the risk associated with recurrent radiation exposure.

However, the amount of radiation used and potential patient exposure has drastically lowered as knowledge and technology have evolved.

Let’s contrast dental X-rays with other ambient radiation sources to put them in context.

To put things in context, one digital dental X-ray contains 0.1 mrem of radiation, while four bitewings contain 0.4 mrem.

Compare that to:

• Natural radiation from soil: 35mrem per year
• Smoking cigarettes: 1,300mrem per year
• Transcontinental flight: 2-4mrem
• Drinking water: 5mrem per year
• Using natural gas for heating and cooking: 9mrem per year

It’s pretty clear how low the level of radiation is in a dental X-ray.

One aeroplane flight across the country exposes you to more radiation than X-rays, and eating ten bananas exposes you to as much radiation as one X-ray!

Although dental X-rays may expose patients to some radiation, the advantages of having them exceed the hazards.

X-rays enable your dentist to identify problems with tooth enamel, gums, and tooth roots unseen by the unaided eye.

Safety and X-rays

Dental X-ray tools and techniques have been honed to minimise radiation exposure.

Every protective tactic ensures patient safety. Lead aprons minimise exposure to the body’s trunk, and a leaded thyroid collar protects the thyroid.

These tools are essential for patients who should be more careful about X-rays, particularly pregnant women.

Who Needs a Dental X-Ray?

Many people might need a dental X-ray. Your dentist may need to diagnose a problem that’s causing pain or determine the structure of your mouth to place dental work.

Several issues that an X-ray can discover are far worse than the tiny amount of radiation.

The following issues can be discovered using a dental X-ray:

• Decay between the teeth.
• Changes in a root canal.
• Bone loss.
• Tumours or growths.
• Infections between the tooth and gums.

Without dental X-rays, these issues can grow silently and cause severe problems.

Regarding dental health, catching these issues early is always more straightforward, less expensive, and less painful.

Who should NOT get X-rays?

Pregnant women. Pregnant women should postpone getting X-rays until after giving delivery. This is to safeguard the foetus’s health, as it is far more vulnerable to radiation issues than adult humans are.

X-rays are hazardous due to the accelerated cellular and DNA alterations that occur during pregnancy. You should have regular dental check-ups during pregnancy. Just make sure your Ria Family Dental dentist knows about your condition.

Children. This is an arguable one. There’s no such thing as a completely safe exposure level; radiation is cumulative over your lifetime.

Children may be vulnerable because their cells are small and divide rapidly. Discuss this with your dentist.

Dental X-rays in Yeronga

At Ria Family Dental in Yeronga, we offer comprehensive care that meets both short- and long-term dental needs.

We provide an honest, judgement-free environment where we practise convenient, comfortable, and conservative care.

For more information, call us on 0451 359 356 or use our online booking service here!

We are located at 1/451B Fairfield Rd in Yeronga.