Every time you visit the dentist, they want to take X-rays. You might wonder if that is really necessary. Is it safe? What is the actual radiation dose? Let us clear up what you need to know to make an informed choice.

Dental X-rays give your dentist a view of what is happening inside your teeth and beneath your gums. They can spot cavities that are not visible to the eye yet, including cavities between teeth or under old fillings.

X-rays also show your dentist the health of your jawbone, the position of your teeth, and whether there are any infections at the root tips. Some problems develop silently with no pain, and X-rays are often the only way to find them early.

Early detection usually means simpler, cheaper treatment. A small cavity found on an X-ray might need a filling. A cavity that grows unnoticed for months might need a root canal or extraction.

You probably hear about radiation and immediately think of danger. But radiation is measured in doses, and the dose from a dental X-ray is extremely small.

A single dental X-ray gives you about 0.005 millisieverts of radiation. To put that in context, you get more radiation from a short aeroplane flight than from a dental X-ray. A chest X-ray is about 100 times more radiation than a dental X-ray.

Living in the UK, you receive about 2.7 millisieverts of natural background radiation every year from the environment. A dental X-ray is less than 0.2% of that annual dose.

Not every patient needs X-rays every year. Your dentist bases the recommendation on your individual risk factors, your age, and the condition of your mouth.

If you have excellent oral health, no history of cavities, and no ongoing dental problems, your dentist might recommend X-rays less frequently. Every two years might be sufficient.

If you have had cavities in the past, have gum disease, or are undergoing orthodontic treatment, more frequent X-rays might be genuinely useful. Your dentist should explain why they are recommending them.

Most modern dental practices use digital X-ray sensors instead of traditional film. Digital X-rays require significantly less radiation than film X-rays, sometimes up to 90% less.

At Meads Village Dental Practice, we use contemporary digital imaging technology. This means the radiation dose from your X-rays is kept as low as reasonably achievable.

If you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant, tell your dentist before any X-rays. While the dose from dental X-rays is very low, your dentist will usually delay routine X-rays until after your pregnancy unless there is a pressing dental problem.

If an X-ray is genuinely needed during pregnancy, your dentist will use a lead apron to shield your abdomen. The risk to an unborn child from modern dental X-rays is negligible with proper shielding.

You always have the right to ask your dentist why an X-ray is needed. A good dentist will explain the reason clearly and help you understand the benefit versus the very small risk.

If you have had X-rays done recently at another practice, ask if those images can be shared. That might reduce the number of new X-rays you need.

Trust your dentist professional judgement, but also feel empowered to have the conversation. Understanding why something is recommended makes it easier to say yes.

Call 01323 723757 or book at www.meadsdental.com

Meads Village Dental Practice