Once in a while, I get a patient who refuses routine x-rays for fear of too much radiation exposure. But how harmful are dental x-rays, really? And do we really need them?
A typical dental x-ray exposes you to about 2-3 mrem (millirem). To put it in context, the NCRP (National Council on Radiation Protections) says the average American receives about 360 mrem per year from background sources. This includes radiation from the atmosphere and in some of the foods we eat. Examples of other sources of radiation include cooking with natural gas (approx 10 mrem per year from radon in natural gas) and smoke detectors (approx 1 mrem per year).
On the other hand, dental x-rays benefit you by allowing your dentist to see and evaluate the supporting bones in your jaw, as well as between your teeth where any of the following may be present and undetectable by visual exam alone
- decay
- cysts
- cancer
- dissolving root and bone disease
Without x-rays, the ability to stop disease while it is small and inexpensive to repair may be lost. This could potentially result in expensive, painful dental disease conditions, unnecessary loss of teeth, and possibly some medical complications as well.
The bottom line? Properly taken dental x-rays are a necessary part of your dental examinations and will not expose you unnecessarily to harmful radiation.
Thank you for reading. I encourage you to leave comments or questions below. To learn more about my practice, click on www.elitesacramentodentist.com
Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
Mar. 23, 2010
