are dental x rays safe
dentaltechnology
Dental X-rays use very little radiation. Here's how digital X-rays compare with a flight, a chest X-ray and everyday background radiation.
Dental X-rays use a very small dose of radiation, and modern digital X-rays need even less than older film X-rays did. At Morgan Heights Dental Centre, your South Surrey dentist takes X-rays only when they're needed.
How does a dental X-ray compare with other radiation?
One digital dental X-ray image is about 1 microsievert (0.001 millisieverts). Figures are approximate and vary with equipment and technique.
- Digital dental X-ray image: about 0.001 mSv
- Cross-Canada flight: about 0.02 mSv, roughly 20 dental X-ray images
- Chest X-ray: about 0.1 mSv
- One year of natural background radiation in Canada: about 1.8 mSv
Why do dentists take X-rays?
X-rays show what we can't see by looking, so small problems can be treated early:
- Cavities between teeth
- The bone around your teeth
- The roots of your teeth
- Wisdom teeth still under the gum
What makes digital X-rays better?
Our digital X-rays use very low radiation. They can be enlarged on screen so we can show you what we see, and sent securely to your insurer or a specialist. We use Cone Beam 3D imaging only when it's needed, such as for planning dental implants.
Pregnancy, kids and previous X-rays
Please tell us if you're pregnant. Routine X-rays can often wait until after. For children, X-rays are taken only when needed, based on their age and their teeth. If you've had X-rays in the last 12 months, ask your previous office to share them so we can avoid retaking them.
Questions about X-rays? Just ask us. We welcome patients from South Surrey and White Rock at 2245 160 Street, Unit 40, Surrey.