Are Dental X-Rays Safe? Your Epsom Dentist Explains

Patient safety is top priority at the Clock Tower Dental Clinic.

X-rays are routinely used by dentists to detect problems that can’t be seen with a straightforward visual check. They can be used to gauge the extent of a cavity or to see if there is an infection of the tooth root that may require root canal treatment. Patients will have noticed that, when an x-ray is taken, members of staff move to an area where they are protected from the rays. This can lead some patients to question the safety of this aspect of dental care.

What are x-rays?

X-rays involve the use of a low dosage of radiation to produce the images that we are all familiar with. Radiation is perhaps best known for sickness caused by leaks from nuclear power plants and other similar situations, but the quantity of radiation used in a dental x-ray however is very minimal, and, under normal circumstances, should be perfectly safe for most patients.

There may be certain medical conditions which mean that x-rays should only be used when absolutely essential. These are far and few between, but it is still important that you inform us of any changes in your general health and also any medications that you may be taking.

Children and x-rays

Naturally, parents always want to protect their children and some may question the safety of x-rays for younger patients. The fact is that although children are more susceptible to radiation, the levels used in our Epsom dental practice are still low enough to be perfectly safe for all members of your family.

Pregnancy

There is one category of patient for whom x-rays should be minimised and that is those who are pregnant. Although the radiation levels are low, it is best to avoid exposure to any radiation, unless essential, during foetal development. It is therefore essential that you let us know if you are pregnant when you come to us for treatment. In cases where the patient is pregnant, and  where we suspect a root canal infection for example, we will discuss the options and risks with you to ensure that a balanced decision can be made as to the best way to proceed.

Our dental team

Despite the low doses of radiation involved, you will notice that our dental team remove themselves from the immediate area where the x-ray is taking place. This, quite naturally, makes some patients believe that this procedure is unsafe. If we think about it logically though, a patient perhaps has one or two x-rays a year, depending on what they are being treated for. Our dental team see patients every working day and can take several x-rays each day. Working on an average of even only 5 x-rays every day, that still works out to be over a thousand instances of exposure to x-rays if we didn’t protect ourselves, more than patients will have during their whole lives.

At The Clock Tower Dental Clinic, patient safety is our prime concern and we do everything possible to ensure that you receive your treatment in safety. We are always happy to discuss any areas of concern that you might have in complete confidentiality.

If you would like to see one of our Epsom dentists or have a question about any of our dental procedures, you can call us on 01372 720136.