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Every six months, you should visit your family dentist to undergo a check-up. Often, this will include having an X-ray taken. This aspect can be stressful for many, largely due to some prevalent misconceptions about what an oral X-ray entails. The guide below seeks to correct some of this misinformation.

What You Shouldn't Believe About Dental X-Rays

1. Dental X-Rays Expose You to High Levels of Radiation

Radiation is measured in units called millisieverts. Each person is exposed to 6.2 millisieverts annually. An intraoral X-ray, which involves taking a picture of the inside of your mouth, exposes you to just .005 millisieverts. A panoramic X-ray of your full set of teeth exposes you to .01 millisieverts of radiation. This is equivalent to what you would absorb from the sun during a short airplane flight.

The reason family dentists and assistants leave the room is because they take X-rays of multiple patients per day to check for tooth decay and gum disease. That frequent exposure is cumulative, meaning it has a more severe effect with repetitive exposure. 

2. Dental X-Rays Cause Brain Cancer

Family DentistEven those who understand the X-rays do not involve a lot of radiation may be worried because of the area being imaged. Your mouth, after all, is close to sensitive parts, like your brain and eyes. However, unlike general X-rays that are meant to capture a broad picture of your bones or internal organs, dental X-rays are much more precise and are usually strictly focused on patients' teeth, gum tissue, and jaw. Other areas of your head are not exposed.

3. Nursing Mothers Shouldn’t Undergo Dental X-Rays 

There are some precautions that nursing mothers should take to avoid passing on problems to their babies. For example, their doctors may recommend stopping certain medications to ensure their milk remains safe for their young ones to drink. Contrary to common belief, dental X-rays do not affect the milk women’s bodies produce.

Since oral health concerns can be tied to other conditions—like heart disease and diabetes—getting a dental X-ray is a proactive measure to protect your overall health.

 

If you haven’t been to visit a family dentist in the past year, make an appointment as soon as possible. Blome Family Dentistry in Lincoln, NE, will provide you with a thorough exam to identify any problems affecting your oral health. The staff understands that some people may be anxious, which is why they offer transparent communication, as well as blankets and televisions with headphones to help you feel comfortable throughout each visit. To learn about the full range of oral care services they provide, visit their website. To schedule an appointment for an office visit, call them at (402) 483-7000.

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