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Dental Radiography Safety

A visit to the dentist follows a familiar routine. X-rays are taken, your teeth are cleaned and you are admonished to floss more. However, dental X-rays, both traditional and digital, can pose a health risk, according to Allan G. Farman in "Panoramic Radiology."

  1. Radiography

    • Dental radiography provides dentists with a valuable imaging tool. Radiography allows a dentist to discover and diagnose issues with periodontal disease, cavities, bone density and tooth attachment to the jaw, according to "Panoramic Radiology."

    Safety Concerns

    • Dental radiography exposes a patient and the person who administers the X-ray to a small amount of low-dose radiation. Over time, radiation exposure can cause a cumulative negative effect on the body, leading to tissue damage or cancer in the thyroid, skin or salivary glands, according to Colgate.com.

    Solutions

    • Dental radiography safety focuses on limiting exposure to radiation. For patients, equipment has been refined to expose a much smaller portion of the body to X-rays, reports Colgate.com. For more protection, the patient can be covered in a lead apron to protect the rest of the body from radiation, while the dentist can leave the room to avoid exposure.

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