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Dental X-rays are widely used by dentists to detect and diagnose issues relating to the gums and teeth. They are often performed when the underlying health condition cannot be detected through regular examinations. 

However, some patients are apprehensive about dental X-rays due to the fear of being exposed to radiation. 

In this article, our team at Dental Specialists of North Florida in Saint Augustine and Palm Coast, Florida explains why dental imaging is safe for both children and adults.

Safety of Dental X-Rays

You are exposed to radiation from various sources in your everyday life even through your mobile phone. While dental X-rays do emit a certain amount of radiation, according to the American Dental Association, the levels of radiation are very low and are comparable to a one or two-hour flight on a plane.

Also, the advancements and improvements in dental X-ray equipment in recent years have significantly brought down the levels of radiation emitted by X-rays.

How to Ensure Safety?

Dentists are aware of how certain patients feel about dental X-rays, and take steps to ensure that there is minimal exposure to radiation, especially for children and pregnant women. 

Some of the steps taken by dentists to ensure your safety are:

• Having X-rays done only if absolutely needed and not as a matter of routine 
• Restricting X-rays to just one film and not several 
• Using the lowest level of radiation possible and bringing down the size of the cone beam to less than 7 cm in diameter
• Using the highest speed films (F-Speed) to get very clear images with limited radiation
• Using digital X-rays that reduce radiation by 80% and produce high-quality images almost instantly
• Getting film holders for the films rather than have patients hold them to prevent the fingers from being exposed
• Lead aprons and collars to shield the vital organs in the upper body

These are the ways dentists can make the process of getting X-rays safe for all patients, including pregnant women and children. And all you need to do to get rid of your anxiety relating to these procedures is get informed.

For further information on the safety of dental X-rays, call our Saint Augustine, Florida, office at (904) 794-1000 or our Palm Coast, Florida, office at (386) 986-1000. You can also visit Dental Specialists of North Florida at 10 Saint Johns Medical Park Drive, Suite C, Saint Augustine, FL 32086, or 3 Cypress Branch Way #107, Palm Coast, FL 32164.