Truths and Myths About Dental X-Rays

Being told you need a dental X-Ray is more common than you might think, but if it’s your first time, you might have some hesitations when it comes to having your scan. You may have heard that X-Rays expose you to unnecessary radiation, or even that a dental X-Ray is not necessary for basic procedures. The truth is, an X-Ray scan is often the only way to identify existing dental problems or ones that are developing. The good news is that with the right dentist in West Palm Beach, you won’t need to worry about your safety, and these truths and debunked myths will help you understand why.

Dispelling the Radiation Myth

It’s true that X-Ray procedures produce and expose you to radiation, but how much is too much?

If you’ve considered a simple X-Ray procedure as dangerous, then just take a look at these other common activities that can also expose you to radiation.

  • Using a cellular device
  • Flying in an airplane or helicopter
  • Being exposed to sunlight
  • Watching TV
  • Using a computer
  • Cooking with a microwave oven

The list could go on, but that’s not the point of this article. The fact is that if you’re alive on planet earth, then you’re going to be exposed to minor levels of radiation, no matter where you live, or where you work. The trick is to minimize radiation exposure, and that’s why consumer electronics, food, vehicles, and methods of mass transportation are all highly regulated to ensure that radiation exposure is not harmful to your health.

How Much Radiation when Visiting a West Palm Beach Dentist?

If you assumed that a short X-Ray procedure would be more dangerous than the common activities listed above, then you will be surprised to learn that modern machines are highly efficient and only emit a small amount of radiation.

The average person in a developed country is exposed to over 600 millirems of radiation per year. A simple X-Ray procedure only emits around 3 millirems. Even if you had two dental scans per year, you wouldn’t even be scratching the surface of the total amount of radiation that you’re exposed to.

Knowing this information, it becomes quite clear that dental X-Rays are no more dangerous than any other basic radiological procedure, and the good news is that a scan can be hugely beneficial to your overall dental health.

Why Would a Dentist Recommend an X-Ray?

Visual examination can only reveal so much, even with the best dentists in West Palm Beach. With the help of an X-Ray, your dentist can learn much more about your overall oral health.

An X-Ray is the best way to;

  • Discover bone infections in your jaw
  • Find impacted teeth that are causing pain
  • Identify abscesses
  • Determine whether your teeth have developed properly and whether corrective measures are needed (braces)
  • Discover tumor or cyst growth that would otherwise go undetected

No Concern with a Professional Dentistry Practice

The myth that dental health X-Rays are unnecessary and dangerous, is exactly that – a myth. The reality is that in many cases, an X-Ray is the only way to accurately map tooth and jaw health, and with your dentist in West Palm Beach, it’s a procedure that is completely safe, and will help to ensure that you get the best possible treatment.

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