How safe are dental x-rays? How often should they be taken?
Dentists are careful to minimize the exposure of patients to radiation. With contemporary safeguards, the amount of radiation received in a dental x-ray examination is extremely small. The risk is negligible. In fact, dental x-rays represent a far smaller risk than an undetected and untreated dental problem. How often x-rays are taken depends on your individual health needs. The schedule for needing radiographs varies according to your age, risk for disease and signs and symptoms. Your dentist will review your history, examine your mouth and then decide whether you need x-rays and what type. If you are a new patient, your dentist may recommend radiographs to determine the present status of the hidden areas of your mouth and to help analyze changes that may occur later. Recent x-rays may be needed to detect new cavities, to determine the status of gum disease, or to evaluate growth and development. Children may need x-rays more often than adults.
