2024 saw the announcement from governing authorities that wearing lead aprons is now not required when taking dental radiographs (x-rays). This begs the question how safe are dental x-rays actually for the authorities to say wearing protection is no longer necessary?
History of X-rays
In 1896 the first x-ray duration took 20 minutes and emitted 75,000 µSv. Radiation is considered safe until reaching 100,000 µSv. but does not cause serious issues until reaching 500,000 µSv. After seven doses from the original x-ray machine, a fetus or person would start to experience complications, deformities, miscarriage, or cancer. No wonder the stigma is looked upon as dangerous!
Dental x-rays now are taken about 0.125 seconds and 0.945 µSv. A person today would need to be exposed to the maximum annual dose of dental x-rays (CBCT, pano, and a 30 dental x-rays) for 221 consecutive years to reach that same radiation of one original x-ray in 1896. Nearly all dental offices have digital x-rays now, which have four times less radiation than the analog counterpart. The recommended daily limit of radiation exposure for a person is 2,757 µSv per day, equivalent of 2,917 individual dental x-rays.
What Type of Radiation is Harmful?
Two types of radiation surround us daily.
Non-ionizing radiation typically does not destroy cells and are not known to cause cancer. These range from radio and microwaves, cellphones, airport TSA scanners, wireless headphones, and tanning beds.
Ionizing radiation may affect the cellular level if in excess causing harmful effects at extremely high exposure levels. Examples of ionizing radiation are x-rays, smoking, flights, sunlight, smoke detectors, and even eating bananas. The daily average ionized radiation exposure for someone living in the USA is about 17 µSv or 0.1% of maximum daily radiation exposure.
Why Dental X-rays?
X-rays are a necessary part of effectively diagnosing dental defects. They are crucial in helping diagnose dental cavities (caries) and other pathology not clinically visible. A dentist is blind without this information.
Will I Get Too Much Radiation at the Dental Office?
A patient is completely safe from radiation overdose in the dental office. An employee who stands beyond six feet from the source has practically zero radiation exposure. An employee would have to take a full set of x-rays (FMX) on 162 patients in a day AND stand within 6 feet of each radiation to reach the maximum radiation daily limits.
Bottom line--normal amounts of radiation from dental x-rays are safe for anyone without worry of complications even if not wearing a protective lead shield.
Equivalent # of Dental x-rays taken | Source (Per Incidence or Daily Limits) |
0.00001 | |
1 | |
4 | |
11 | |
11 | |
18 | |
18 | |
30 | X-rays (Maximum potential of single dental x-rays taken in one year) |
42 | |
72 | |
106 | |
368 | |
2,118 | |
2,757 | |
79,407 |
**Daily limits calculations are based on a 16-day work week in a given month
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