Just How Safe are X-Rays at the Dentist’s Office?

Routine examinations performed during regular visits to the dentist's office often involve X-rays. Most of the time, patients don’t really give much thought to the use of X-rays, but recently a new study has turned up some disturbing information. The risks of developing thyroid cancer can double from the use of X-rays. Three hundred patients with thyroid cancer were studied, and it was found that the repeated use of X-rays can increase the risks of developing the disease.

 

Previous studies have shown a connection between X-rays performed at the dentist's office and cancers involving the thyroid, salivary glands and the brain. Even though thyroid cancer is one of the more rare forms of cancer, it has doubled in the period from 1976 to 2006, as have other forms of oral cancer.

 

Exposure to low doses of radiation throughout one’s lifetime can accumulate and develop into a serious threat of cancer……a good reason why patients should seriously question their dentist about the need for X-rays and always ask for a protective shield when receiving X-rays. This shield will protect the body from scattered radiation.

With all that being said, the reality is that X-rays are an essential and sometimes necessary tool to help dental professionals determine what’s going on with teeth beyond the surface. Thus, the best course of action seems to be to have X-rays performed only when essential and make sure the proper precautions are being taken to shield the body.

Source: North Hollywood Dentist

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