Digital x-rays have many advantages. Similar to a digital camera, images can be adjusted afterwards to enhance the picture. The results are a more consistent quality of x-ray. This means less re-takes for the patient, and earlier detection of problems.
I want to avoid x-rays
Absolutely, so does everyone at Live Well Dental Center. We work with them all day long, so radiation safety for staff and patients a priority for us. Radiation accumulates in the body so it is important to consider your “lifetime” dosage of radiation.
However, x-rays are important to detect dental diseases, since many dental problems start and progress with very few, if any, symptoms.
When dental problems progress to the point of feeling discomfort, it is often more expensive and painful to treat.
We take great care in balancing the benefits of taking x-rays to avoid pain and discomfort, but also being aware of radiation exposure.
radiation exposure comparison
The exposure of radiation of one digital dental x-ray is equal to getting one full day of background radiation at sea level. Compare this to a mammogram at 52 days of background radiation, or a head CT at 250 days of background radiation. A round trip flight across the country will have about the same as 4 days of extra of background radiation exposure.