Are you concerned about radiation at your dental visit?
Radiation from dental x-rays is a small portion of a person’s annual exposure and is a negligible risk compared to the health benefit. Technology has changed dramatically in the way our x-ray machines work, and the way our digital sensors receive the image. This technology change has made it much easier, and safer to take dental x-rays.
In fact, with new technology lead aprons are no longer necessary for routine x-rays due to improved x-ray head designs which shoot the radiation in a straight line rather than scattering it. The apron is used here in our Paducah Kentucky dental office more as a psychological comfort, and to children and pregnant women whose tissues are developing.
Recommended dose limits of the NCRP (National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements)
- 50,000 µSv/year for clinical staff working with radiation
- 1,000 µSv/year for general public
Most people think of radiation as something you only get when you go to the dentist or doctor’s office, but it’s actually hidden in many day-to-day activities. Some typical sources that may expose you to radiation include smoke detectors, living in a brick house instead of a wood one (due to radioactive materials in the masonry), cooking with natural gas (radon gas in the natural gas supply), reading a book for 3 hours per day (due to small amounts of radioactive materials in the wood used to make the paper), and even from flying in an airplane (due to the increased altitude).
The risk of not having yearly x-rays is much greater than the risk from radiation exposure. We routinely see teeth that with the naked eye seem healthy, but with the aid of x-rays are seen to have large cavities. X-rays also help us to detect cancers of the bone at an earlier stage, as well as calcification of the carotid artery.
If you have any questions or concerns about radiation exposure, please give us a call and ask!