Do dental x-rays cause cancer?
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American Dental Association answered:The main concern about being exposed to radiation from dental x-rays is the risk of getting cancer years later. While the risk of radiation-related cancer is hard to measure, it is believed that with low dose x-rays the risk is smaller.
Dental x-ray exams use very low doses of radiation, making the risk of harmful effects very small. X-ray exams have radiation levels equal to 2 to 3 days of naturally occurring background radiation or a four-hour flight on an airplane. Chest and spine x-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans have higher levels.
The main concern about being exposed to radiation from dental x-rays is the risk of getting cancer years later. While the risk of radiation-related cancer is hard to measure, it is believed that with low dose x-rays the risk is... More -
Dr. Greg Jorgensen answered:Too much radiation from any source can potentially cause problems for your body. The benefits of carefully prescribed and controlled dental x-rays far outweigh the risks. Your dentist was educated to follow the ALARA principle which stands for "As Little As Reasonably Achievable." To help in this goal, dentists have made the equipment faster, require lower doses, have more "shielding" to prevent unnecessary collateral exposure, and will provide you with lead aprons during the procedure. Your dentist will not take an x-ray unless it is for your benefit. Relax and be thankful for all of the advances in science which have made us safer now than ever before!
Too much radiation from any source can potentially cause problems for your body. The benefits of carefully prescribed and controlled dental x-rays far outweigh the risks. Your dentist was educated to follow the ALARA principle which stands for "As... More -
Dr. Ali Baba Attaie of The Mount Sinai Medical Center answered:Like many answers, that depends! A 2012 Yale study in the Cancer Journal was based on childhood routine dental X-ray exposure of a cohort of adults (average of 57) showed a greater risk of Meningioma, a non-cancerous benign tumor of the brain. The X-ray machines that were used on this group was well over 10 years old when the radiation per exposure for an intraoral X-ray was about 10 times higher (about 300-400 microsieverts) than today's modern units (about 35 microsieverts). Additionally, with faster E and F speed film and digital radiography the radiation can be cut by another 2/3 (12-15 microsieverts). That means that an intraoral dental X-ray taken by a modern X-ray unit and digital sensor or faster film exposes a patient to about 20 times less radiation than those who were part of the Yale Study.
In case of newer X-ray and detection technology, the amount of radiation involved is far less than what we receive as background radiation. For example while a cross country commercial flight will typically result in about 50 microsieverts of radiation which is more than a pair of bitewings at about 30-40 microsieverts. So then in comparison to other background exposures, modern dental X-rays do not add a significant level of radiation to cause any concern with respect to developing Cancer or in the case of this report a meningioma brain tumor.
Like many answers, that depends! A 2012 Yale study in the Cancer Journal was based on childhood routine dental X-ray exposure of a cohort of adults (average of 57) showed a greater risk of Meningioma, a non-cancerous benign tumor of the brain. The... More
