Are you worried that the radiation exposure during a dental X-ray is putting your health at risk? Our team hopes to help you understand the diagnostic and preventive benefits of dental X-rays so you can make informed decisions about your oral healthcare.
Purpose of Dental X-Rays
Dental X-rays play an important role in protecting your oral health. These images aid dentists in detecting issues that are difficult to spot with the naked eye, especially those that are occurring inside the teeth, under the gums, and inside the jawbone. For example, dental X-rays can show areas of decay in between teeth and under a filling or sealant; inform the necessity of wisdom teeth removal; and reveal cysts, bone loss, tumors, infections, and other potentially life-threatening conditions.
Dental X-Ray Safety
Any type of X-rays expose your body to electromagnetic radiation. This is high energy that has the potential to alter the DNA of your cells. Damaged and mutated cells are at a higher risk of dividing and multiplying uncontrollably, which causes a disease called cancer. However, whether this process occurs hinges on the radiation dosage that your body absorbs.
When infrequently performed with all the proper safety protocols in place, digital dental X-rays expose your body to extremely minimal levels of radiation. It is less or similar to the typical radiation you are exposed to during the day from other sources, such as the sun, Earth, and electronics. Since dental X-rays focus on the mouth area only and the procedure seldom occurs, they are generally considered safe for patients.
Though dental X-rays are low-risk and extremely helpful tools for diagnosing and treating dental issues, patients do have the right to refuse them!
If you are pregnant at the time of your dental visit, please let us know. We can discuss whether dental X-rays are absolutely needed for diagnostic purposes or if they can wait until after delivery.
Consult with Our Team in Chattanooga!
At Bridge Dental Care, your oral health and your safety are our highest priorities. If you ever have any concerns about procedures at our office, please talk to our team. We take patient education very seriously and want to help you feel informed and comfortable about your care.
Image from Authority Dental under CC 2.0