Dental X-rays are widely prescribed by dentist in Powell, TN, to check for oral health and cavity detection. But are dental X-rays safe? To answer this question, it is important to define a few related concepts.
Dental radiography or X-ray is the placing of an image of your teeth on film or digital storage media such as a computer. A dental X-ray image can be used to detect dental diseases such as decay and monitor the progress of treatments such as tooth extractions or root canal therapy.
The first question to ask is what ionizing radiation dose is produced by a dental X-ray. The dose of ionizing radiation from a dental X-ray is very small, typically less than 10 microrems (μrem). The reference to the term “rem” may be confusing because it does not refer to what most people would consider the standard unit of “radiation exposure,” known as the rad. Rather, it refers to one-hundredth of a rad.
Dental X-rays are generally considered “non-ionizing radiation,” meaning that they do not have sufficient energy or penetration to cause ionization in human tissue and thus break chemical bonds. Therefore, dental X-rays are not thought to be harmful or dangerous to the body.
Why Do Doctors Use Dental X-Rays?
One of the most common questions people ask about dental X-rays is, why are they necessary? This is a natural question because it seems that X-rays are often used to discover problems. Why not just examine the patient’s teeth visually and save the X-rays for more serious health issues, such as broken bones or a tumor?
Dentists use dental X-ray images to provide a comprehensive examination of your oral health. There are indeed many conditions that can be visually detected, but some oral health issues cannot be seen with the naked eye. The very small size of tooth-root cavities, for example, makes them almost impossible to detect without using an X-ray.
X-rays are, therefore, particularly used for diagnosing dental problems and monitoring dental treatments that aren’t usually easily visible to the naked eye. They can also help dentists diagnose oral problems with other structures, such as the jawbone, sinus cavities, or possible fractures.
However, just because they are typically considered “safe,” it doesn’t mean that dental X-rays don’t come with any risks. Those who have a sensitivity to ionizing radiation should not get dental X-rays under any circumstances.
