Although some
patients may have concerns about radiation exposure during a dental
appointment, the amount of radiation dentists use is so insignificant that many
patients consider it an afterthought. When
explaining dental X-ray machine radiation to patients, dental practitioners sometimes
compare dental radiation dose to the amount of natural radiation a patient may
receive from a few minutes lounging at the beach or traveling on an airplane. This
helps patients better understand the risks of dental imaging vs. the rewards of
maintaining proper dental health.
Advancements
in Radiation Technology
Advancements
in radiation technology have helped make dental X-ray machines much safer for
patients and dental staff alike. For decades, dentists captured X-rays using traditional
dental X-ray machines and film, then waited to develop the films before the
images were available for diagnosis and treatment planning. Today, digital
imaging technology has minimized the higher radiation doses often required with
their film counterparts, as well as virtually eliminated the risk of retakes
due to patient movement, poor quality results, or unwanted image artifacts.
Radiation
Exposure in Dental vs. Medical Procedures
When compared to medical imaging,
dental X-ray machines produce very little radiation, primarily because much
more radiation is required to penetrate large areas of bone and tissue than is
needed to penetrate dental anatomy. Additionally,
the bones and skin of the mouth have low radio-sensitivity compared to larger
parts of the body.For example, a 2D chest
X-ray requires 50 μSv (micro Sieverts) of radiation, while a
dental 2D panoramic X-ray requires only 10 μSv (micro Sieverts). Likewise, a
medical CT scan of the maxilla and mandible can require up to 2,000 μSv (micro Sieverts) of radiation, as compared to only 36 μSv (micro Sieverts) for a similarly sized dental cone beam scan.
Three-Dimensional
Scans in Dentistry
Thanks to the
introduction of the cone beam dental X-ray machine, dentists only need very low
doses of radiation to produce high-quality dental 3D images. Most modern dental
cone beam systems can be collimated to capture only the region of interest, further
reducing radiation dose.
Dental 3D
scanners use cone beam technology and flat panel detectors, known as sensors, which are different than the higher-radiation based technology used in medical CT
devices. Cone beam sensor technology has
improved significantly over the years, requiring even less radiation to
reconstruct dental cone beam images than the first generation models.
Dental
Radiation and Cancer Risk
Radiation is
often associated with cancer risk. If a patient is concerned about a 2D or 3D
dental X-ray exam, they are likely worried about the risk of cancer. There is
no scientific evidence that dental radiography has been shown to cause cancer. The
fact that routine dental X-ray exams emit significantly lower radiation than
even natural background exposures further supports that there is little to no
risk associated with exposure from these types of exams.
Need
additional tips for discussing dental X-ray machine radiation exposure with
your patients? Renew Digital is happy to
offer assistance at
any time.
Loading... Please wait...
