08/21/2025
When patients hear the word “radiation,” it often causes unnecessary concern. However, modern dental X-rays are among the safest medical imaging tools used today. The amount of radiation is extremely small—comparable to everyday sources we barely notice. For example:
Eating a banana exposes you to natural radiation from potassium; a single dental X-ray delivers about the same amount as eating a few bananas.
Spending a few minutes in sunlight actually exposes you to more radiation than a dental X-ray.
A short airplane flight exposes you to several times more radiation than a full set of dental X-rays.
Advances in technology have made dental X-rays even safer. Older film-based X-rays required higher radiation doses, but today’s digital sensors reduce exposure by up to 90% while producing clearer, more detailed images. These improvements help dentists catch problems earlier and treat them more effectively.
In short, the radiation from dental X-rays is minimal, carefully controlled, and far outweighed by the benefits of early detection. Rather than posing a risk, dental X-rays are a vital tool for maintaining your teeth, jaw, and overall dental health
