X-Rays
| X-Rays and Radiation Patients and parents are sometimes concerned about radiation exposure they may receive when we take diagnostic x-rays of them or their children. While radiation exposure does pose a risk of producing cancer, the amount of radiation exposure during an x-ray in our office is a relatively small percentage of the amount of radiation that each of us is exposed to annually. The following chart provides examples of the types and amounts of radiation to which the average American citizen is exposed on an annual basis: |
| Amount of Radiation | Source of Radiation | Examples and Additional Information |
| 3.5 milliSievert (mSv) | Average annual exposure in the United States | |
| 2.0 mSv | Radon | Radon is a gas we inhale without even knowing it |
| 0.52 mSv | Medical testing and treatment | X-rays, other medical tests |
| 0.40 mSv | Food | For example, the potassium in bananas has radioactive isotopes. |
| 0.28 mSv | Earth | Soil containing radioactive isotopes, bricks in our homes |
| 0.26 mSv | Cosmic | Sun, other stars, radioactive matter traveling through the universe |
| 0.007 mSv | Orthodontic panoramic x‑ray |
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As the above chart shows, the amount of radiation exposure from an orthodontic panoramic x-ray is relatively small compared to the amount of radiation exposure from other sources. Below is a second chart that shows the amount of radiation exposure from one orthodontic panoramic film compared to other common sources of radiation: |
| Amount of Radiation | Source of Radiation | Examples and Additional Information |
| 4.06mSv | Lower GI series | |
| 2.44mSv | Upper GI series | |
| 0.08mSv | One chest x-ray | |
| 0.02mSv | One week ski trip to Colorado | We are exposed to higher levels of radiation at higher atmospheres. |
| 0.01mSv | One airplane flight | We are exposed to higher levels of radiation at higher atmospheres. |
| 0.01mSv | Dental x-ray | |
| 0.007mSv | Orthodontic panoramic x‑ray |
| As the above chart shows, a week-long ski trip would expose you to three times the amount of radiation as one orthodontic panoramic film in our office. A single chest x-ray would expose you to eight times the amount of radiation as one orthodontic panoramic film. In addition, radiation exposure from an orthodontic panoramic film is limited to the head and neck. Unlike drugs, radiation does not circulate through a human body. Therefore, there should be no risk of developing breast cancer or other cancers of the body from radiation exposure to the head and neck. Despite these comparisons, radiation exposure IS an important issue and we take our patient's and parent's health concerns seriously. We balance the risk of radiation exposure against the diagnostic benefit of x-rays. Dentists generally abide by a rule known as the "ALARA Principle": radiation exposure should be As Low As Reasonably Achievable. We do not take x-rays indiscriminately, but we do take them when it is appropriate. If you have questions about radiation exposure during orthodontic treatment, please feel free to contact me. |
