Dental x-rays are one of the lowest doses of radiation performed. At a routine dental visit, four bitewing x-rays are performed. They only produce 0.005 mSv, which is less than spending a day outside!
Do you wonder why dental professionals leave the room when they take x-rays? Dental teams may take hundreds of x-rays per week! Staff will limit the risk of exposure by moving away from the x-ray beam. However, the risk to patients from routine x-rays is small, especially when covered by a lead apron.
Dental professionals encourage patients to get routine x-rays. This helps diagnose any problem that is unseen in the mouth and helps the dentist and patient make informed decisions about treatment, together.
If you decline dental x-rays, you could prevent the dentist from finding many diseases of the oral cavity including decay, infection, and bone loss. This can cause a health problem that can become severe and difficult to treat. If you have concerns about the radiation exposure from dental x-rays, ask your dentist for clarification.
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