Are dental x-rays safe? -The New York Times

Q: It seems like every time I go to the dentist I’m asked to take x-rays. Will this increase my risk of cancer, and how can I balance that with the potential benefits?

Dental x-rays are essential to oral health. They can help dentists detect problems such as cavities, abscesses, abnormal growths and gum disease, often before they become serious.

But getting x-rays during regular dental cleanings can be a source of anxiety for some. Dental x-rays emit a form of energy called ionizing radiation, which can damage DNA and increase the risk of cancer. So, is it risky to regularly obtain this type of imaging?

The amount of radiation you’re exposed to during dental X-rays is very small, said David J. Brenner, director of the Center for Radiologic Research at Columbia University. This is much lower than decades ago, and often less than the total radiation you are exposed to daily from your environment, such as the sun, space, and materials in the ground like rocks. and the ground, he said.

Still, experts said dentists should only administer X-rays when a patient needs them, such as when a practitioner notices a potential problem during an exam and needs more information, said the Dr. Erika Benavides: dentist and oral and maxillofacial radiologist at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

“The clinical examination should always come first,” she said.

How much radiation do x-rays emit?

Different types of dental x-rays release different amounts of radiation. A typical series of bitewing X-rays — in which a patient bites on a wing-shaped device to hold the X-ray film in place — emits about five microsieverts of ionizing radiation, said Sanjay M. Mallya, an oral and maxillofacial radiologist. at the University of California Los Angeles School of Dentistry. That’s less radiation than you would be exposed to in a typical day, he said.