My dentist uses x-rays a lot with me. I know it's to identify certain conditions, but are they safe if they're done almost every appointment? How necessary are they?
Low risk patients need them annually. High risk patients every six months. Digital x-rays are mostly safe
Hi there,
Dental X-rays exhibit much less radiation than many medical diagnostics, i.e., chest X-rays, etc. These days, a majority of dentists have incorporated digital X-rays which require much less exposure time, hence even lower radiation. However, the ALARA principle (as low as reasonably achievable) is always followed. The normal individual will have X-rays every 18 months. If the individual has a high caries (cavities) incidence, the frequency is shorter to catch and treat when decay is minimal. Prevention is better than the cure!
Safe