Are Dental X-Rays Safe and Necessary?

When you are sitting on the dental chair and get an inquiry from the dentist, you may also be asked to get the dental X-Ray. You may be worried about the dental X-ray issue because the safety of dental X-rays has been debated. Fortunately, this post would solve all the questions about dental X-rays. 

What is Dental X-Ray

As a matter of fact, the Dental X-Ray is a harmless dental technology to help your dentist diagnose problems in your teeth and jaws. unlike the low speed handpiece or other dental tools, it is dental aid equipment to help dentists find out the infection areas. It could let your dentist see deep beneath your gums, even into your bones, to the roots of your teeth, and through your tooth enamel.

detal x-ray

Dental X-Ray

Are Dental X-Ray Safe

Given that this equipment utilizes X-ray technology, you might wonder about the safety of dental X-rays. The answer is “Yes” The dental X-Ray is safe for humans. A routine examination with four bitewing x-rays exposes you to roughly the same amount of radiation you will experience during one to two hours on an airplane. 
Furthermore, the X-Ray technique has been honed over time to minimize exposure to radiation, such as digital dental x-ray. Digital X-ray machines employ sensors, which can be placed inside or outside the mouth, to capture detailed images with minimal radiation exposure. This type of dental X-ray makes much lower radiation exposure for the patient.

Are Dental X-Rays Necessary?

Certainly, dental X-rays are a crucial component of dental healthcare for patients. Like the integrated dental unit, It is one of the most important dental equipment. And, for convenience, portable x-ray has also been introduced on the market, so dentists could carry it to make a diagnosis for patients.

portable x ray

Portable X-Ray

Do Dental X Rays Show Infection

Yes, they do show infection! the dental X-rays can uncover some dental diseases in the teeth and gums. These diseases are not easy to undetected without the X-Ray. And, these diseases include potentially serious conditions such as the following:
An abscess, or infection at the root of a tooth or between the gum and a tooth

●Areas of decay that are not visually detectable

●Infections

●Changes in a Root Canal

●Bone Loss

●Cysts and tumors


But the major duty of the dental X-ray is handling the addressed signs of infection or tooth decay.  These two issues are the two aspects that seriously impact or damage a patient's life.

Who Needs a Dental X-Ray

From the perspective of mouth health, it is necessary for adults to get a dental X-ray either every six months, every year, or every three years. Teenagers, they need more frequent X-rays. In summary, the frequency of the dental rays depends on your dental health and how many dental tests you have completed. Here are some factors which determine the frequency of getting a dental X-Ray.


●Your overall dental medical history---- oral health is the source of many general health problems.


●The patient status-----Are you a new dental patient? How long has it been since your last dental exams?


●High-Risk Group---- Some unnoticed factors may lead people to be more predisposed to dental problems. The dental X-Ray could uncover the oral conditions and give a reference to the dentist, so the dentist could give some advice to prevent or address problems. 

Who Should Avoid Dental X-Rays?

Two groups can not do the X-Ray. The first group is the pregnant women. The second one is the children. Here are the reasons
Pregnant Women. First, to protect the health of the fetus, pregnant women can not get an X-Ray exam until after birth. Although the dental X-ray makes a small amount of radiation that is safe for humans, the fetus is much more susceptible to radiation exposure and more vulnerable.

Children may be vulnerable since they’re small, and their cells are dividing rapidly. Discuss this with your dentist.

Last Thought

Last, you don’t have to worry too much about the safety of the dental X-ray. As same as the cure curing light and intra oral camera, it is safe dental equipment to help dentists solve your oral issues and improve your oral health. The exposure of dental X-ray is too little to affect the patient health.

20 May, 2022

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