How safe are dental X-rays?

If you are visiting the dentist for any kind of treatment, chances are you will have a dental X-ray at some point during the process, as they are incredibly useful tools for diagnosing and monitoring mouth illness, so much so that they are sometimes unavoidable, and the benefits they bring to treatment are immeasurable.

Today we are all more aware than ever of the consequences of radiation than ever before, and so it is understandable that people are concerned about potential health risks from this, and so a question often asked here at our Midtown Manhattan Cosmetic Dentistry is a simple one. How safe are dental X-rays?

X-Rays use radiation, and of course the connection between radiation and cancer is long established, however, with dental X-rays, the level of radiation you are actually subject to is microscopic, which does minimize the risk of any harmful effects as a result. Indeed, a checkup dental X-ray has nearly 600 times less radiation that the background radiation we are exposed to in our normal lives each year. Even a full set of investigative X-rays, that is 18 separate images, has around 30 times less radiation than a gastrointestinal X-ray.

Whilst the radiation levels you are exposed to are actually very low, this does not mean that Dr. Karen Kang or any other Midtown Manhattan Dentist are unconcerned about the situation, far from it. Dentists everywhere work hard to minimize the radiation patients are exposed to at the dental office. By using specialized high speed film, lead aprons for the bodies (recommended for children and pregnant women) and the latest digital X-rays, both the length of exposure and the amount of the body exposed to the radiation can be reduced even further.

X-rays are an incredibly important diagnostic tool for dentists, and like any other New York City Midtown Dentist Dr. Karen Kang will only prescribe necessary x-rays once a full examination has taken place and the need for, and amount of, X-rays has been clinically ascertained.

There is no doubt that the benefits of the dental X-ray far outweigh the risks associated with the very small levels of radiation involved, and your dentist will only perform them where necessary, but some people will still worry about the situation even knowing all of this. With that in mind, if you are facing the prospect of a dental X-ray and still have concerns it is vital that you talk to the dentist about this.

Dentists do understand that it can be a worrying prospect for many people, and rather than sit in a state of panic, it is far better for you and your dentist if you discuss your concerns with them beforehand. Many people find that having the process and instruments involved explained to them calmly can really help to alleviate those fears and provide a much more pleasant experience for all parties during the dental X-ray.