Questions and Answers About Digital Dental X-Rays
Why do we need to take dental x-rays?
The routine use of dental x-rays as a diagnostic tool is a benefit that should is used for conservative, healthy dental treatment. Obviously, we are conscious of our patients’ concerns about x-rays, and we only take x-rays when they are absolutely necessary.
Dental X-Rays’ Radiation in Perspective
Radiation is measured in a unit known as millirems (mrem). The following is a list that can help put dental x-rays in perspective:
- 1 mrem = two hours in a jet plane
- 7 mrem/year = from living in a brick house
- 700 mrem = abdominal x-ray
- 0.5 mrem = one “regular” dental x-ray (traditional wet film)
- 0.1 mrem = one digital x-ray (what we use)
So as you can see from the chart above, dental x-rays are a very low source of radiation. Also, notice that digital dental x-rays reduce radiation by 70-80% further to only about 0.1 mrem!
Therefore, in addition to limiting the number of x-rays we take, we are using the best technology possible to minimize the dose to the lowest possible level.
If you have questions about dental x-rays, please don’t hesitate to call or email us and we will be happy to answer your questions.