Are dental x-rays safe? What dose of radiation is really safe?
Dental radiographs (x-rays) use a very low dosage of radiation for exposure. The equipment is regulated and monitored by the state agencies to assure the safety of both the patients and the staff. While there is no true safe level of radiation exposure, the amount used is so small it should make no real difference in someone’s life. A standard set of full mouth radiographs (14-20 films) exposes the patient to less radiation than they would receive from several hours outside on a sunny day or less than they would receive from a flight in an airplane from New York to California. This does not mean we shouldn’t take the exposure seriously. It simply points out that in the scope of all other radiation exposure we receive, it has little additional significance.
