Dental x-rays: Risk vs Reward

What's your thought & knowledge on this topic? I sometimes think dental x-rays are overused & can increase risk of cancers.

I’ll ask my daughter who was an X-ray tech. and is now a radiation therapist. All I know is she still gets dental X-rays.

I’ve been getting them once a year for years. I’m not worried about it.

Let the dentist dig around in your mouth then…LOL

Most dental x-rays are digital now. In my office the exposure time is 1/60th of a second. You get more radiation walking to your truck than a dental x-ray.
There are several criteria for taking pics. If you have a bunch of fillings in your mouth (especially in between teeth) you get bitewings once a year. If you have very few filling, you get bitewings every 2 years.
A panoramic x-ray (around your head) every 5 years.
Teeth that have had root canals get a pic once a year. New patients get a panoramic, bitewings and single pics of root canal teeth.
We cannot detect decay between teeth without bitewings. Root canal teeth are dead and generally dont hurt but, we need to see that a giant, face-eating abscess isn't forming at the root tip of a failed root canal.
I realize people don't like X-rays but, they are important.
If a patient comes in my office declining proper treatment, we dismiss them. The dental office is not like Burger King, you don't get it the way you want it. You get it the way it's supposed to be done.
If i don't do my job properly, it's called "benevolent neglect" , then my bum is over a barrel.

Maybe I'm a little overfearful in this regard, but it's been a rough winter in that I am fighting thyroid cancer that was diagnosed in November. It's very possible (if not likely) it wasn't caused by dental xrays, but it is in the back of my mind. I have a dental appt this week & I know they are going to push xrays. Maybe they will expel me if I don't comply. Even if they do serve some benefit, it seems some dentists overprescribe expensive xrays. I have heard some machines don't emit the radiation they used to, but damage could already have been done when I was a kid. Online research can be misleading, but from what I read it seems debatable whether the benefits outweigh the cons. I have a co-worker with brain cancer. I doubt he got it from xrays, but one never knows.

I went to two different dentists asking for a simple tooth cleaning. They insisted on X-rays even though I was clear that I could only afford a cleaning. The first place wanted $3200 as they found a dreadful gum disease and refused to clean them. The second dentist wanted $2800 to crown cracked teeth that the first dentist didn't see. The first dentist didn't see the cracked teeth that needed crowned. lol They reluctantly cleaned them. They would prefer to squeeze thousands out of you instead of $100.

iowayote I have a question. Son kept complaining about a sore in his mouth. Went to the local doc and he had to google it on his iPhone. He told my son doctors don’t study anything about the mouth in school or at least not much. I wasn’t there so I don’t want to put words in his mouth. I found that kinda weird. I would think the mouth would be covered in med school like any other part of the body. If that’s true why? Did a couple docs flip a coin 300 years ago and the winner get to pick what he didn’t want to mess with. Lol

iowayote is spot on

I have been an xray tech since 2004 and can tell you the amount of xrays a normal person gets on their mouth is a small fraction of the radiation you receive in normal life.

Can xrays cause thyroid cancer? You bet but more likely in a xray tech doing fluoro imaging daily with no protection.

Pawnee I can't speak for all dentists but I can tell you mine thoroughly checks my gums, inside of lips and tongue for any signs of abnormality EVERY visit

ex-dentist here. I would not consider an initial exam complete without a series of X-rays and periodontal probing/charting and soft tissue examination with a good medical history recorded. Now once you are an established patient with an ongoing history then you can skip the every 6 month xrays if you and not having any recent problems. The bite wing once every two years at least, with no ongoing problems. Oh if you are a teenager that would be every year no matter what. Just my opinion. Of course every case is different. The danger they present is so minimal now a days that it is not a concern for the normal person.......jk

My daughter-in-law is a dental assistant who takes xrays. I was surprised when she told me they don't have a dosimeter program.

M.D.'s do learn about mouths, just not as much as a dentist. Just like any other specialty. Ex: Ophthalmologist, cardiologist, podiatrist, etc. Schools just figure there is too much info to take in when there is a specialist on every corner (dentists)




Gary, the reason they didn't want to clean them is exactly the reason i stated earlier. They know that the "cleaning" you got isn't what you need. You need periodontal therapy. That dentist is trying to avoid having you come to him in a year when your teeth start falling out saying "I just had them cleaned last year."

A good comparison that we can all understand: Cleanin your trapping vechile (lol) with a garden hose or cleanin it with a 2000psi pressure washer with soap.

I wish I could get in to see a dentist here, there's a terrible shortage. Even emergency care can be months out. Is that a national issue or something unique to Maine?

every other year , wearing the lead apron the risk to the patient is very low compared to a missed cavity that turns into an abscess or infection.

in addition oral inflammation leads to the blood clotting and makes for greater risk of heart attack and stroke.

if your looking at risk factors , stop chewing Tabaco , smoking , vaping , drinking pop/soda , drinking alcohol in quantity , when you have all that licked and you are your ideal weight all your blood tests come back perfect , then maybe worry about the dental xrays

There are more dentists in Fairbanks than gas stations. Doctors we are short on!

Chewing tobacco wears away teeth and causes cancer in the mouth. Smokers frequently have cancer in their airways. Both are worse than modern X-rays.

I have shied away from dentists since one dentist I went to told me my bite was irregular and I needed an occlusal adjustment done to correct my bite. He ground on my teeth to correct it and charged me plenty over a period of several appointments.
Since then when eating I often bite the corner of my mouth. It bleeds and swells making me eat with the opposite side until it heals. This had never happened prior to this procedure.

I’m sure he ate better after your procedure. Lol

Oh Yeh!

I've been looking for the right excuse to move back. A sensitive molar might be it.

On another note, do any of you guys live in fear of getting your lips ripped off while sitting in the chair? Or maybe strangling when that little suction hose ain't doin' the job? Dislocated jaw? Just stuff that crosses my mind when I'm sitting there.

I've been looking for the right excuse to move back. A sensitive molar might be it.

We would welcome you! Bring lots of c- notes cause you’ll need them…LOL

Then on top of that they are trying to shove testers up your nose.

There would be lots of dire suffering without dentists in this world.

You couldn't pay me to live back in time with no modern dental to keep the whole body healthy. Bad teeth are the downfall of the whole body. It is all connected, beginning with good teeth, clean mouth, good digestion, equals healthy body.

I have always had good dentists and enjoy my visits. I like taking interest in what they do and enjoy asking questions and seeing how they work. They, in turn, appreciate their client and take pride in the client's health.

Radiographs have some a long way, and are as easy as holding a small machine up to the jawlines with a click, and it's done. 3-D digital fascinates me, and I always see the readouts on the computer with them.

Keeping good health in your teeth is easy once the habit of everyday brushing and regular flossing is a routine. Once that level of very good hygiene is attained, anything less , in appearance or experienced, is intolerable.

Medical care in this region is very prompt , with little delay, that goes for good clinic, hospital , specialists, or surgical care, veterans care, everything. I have had same day dental care in an emergency , with everything else , very fast scheduling, not even the weeks of waiting. Nothing but pluses in every direction, from the quality of dentists to the scheduling for appointments.

I feel for those who have to wait to have what is their right as a human , the right to good health care.

Not trying to be a wise guy here but if you already have thyroid cancer.......why are you worried about dental x-rays ? Radiation is one type of therapy used in treating thyroid cancer.

I had radiation therapy for throat cancer. Prior to beginning I had to have any dental problems fixed. There were none. But I have come to look forward to dentist visits. Really enjoy that great feeling after the hygienist has worked them over !

When I was kid, my family dentist had worked for Hitler....I'm pretty sure.........so I had a very bad attitude towards dentists. Fortunately I found a good one in 1975 and we worked out the ground rules. As Sharon says, you can suffer a great many other illnesses from bad teeth. Take the best care you can of what you have.

If you are receiving radiation treatment........your teeth are at much greater risk than they would be .....or anything else would be.......from dental x-rays.

Boy do I feel fortunate. We have been going to the same family dentist for 46 years now and it is the 3rd generation. For the last 12 years I go 3 times per year for cleanings etc. and yes I get an xray about once a year or every other year. We had horrible to non existent dentistry care until I got to college so we had lots of issues. By getting on a good care program with dentists I trust I have not had the need for extensive dental work. One cavity over the last 25 years and do the things that keep my gums healthy. With a aortic heart valve replacement one does not want infections and gums are an area that can lead to that. Good dental care is a lot more than fillings and bad breath.

Bryce

I had a great dentist until he retired. There were two brothers, both dentists who shared the same office. One retired and the other can't keep up to the demand.

absolutely I drive nearly 2 hours to see my dentist , i am dreading him retiring , he works part time now but that includes 1 Saturday a month I book 6 months out to get that Saturday

he watched the same spot the xrays for 22 years and then he said well the spot didn't get bigger but I got a smaller drill bit so we can get it now that was my one adult cavity when they get them so small it takes very little time , no novicane and they just drill till you wince then fill with the UV activated stuff

I must be the only one that actually falls asleep in the dentist chair. They put those sunglasses on me and have to remind me to keep my mouth open. My hygienist takes X-rays as insurance allows. Think it’s once a year. Never had an issue.

I'd be sure to look you up. More expensive than ever up there? Are people still lugging their water around on their pickup trucks?

I agree.

I don't smoke or chew.

Fair question. The dental office said thyroid cancer is the main concern when it comes to risks pertaining to dental x-rays. They said I probably don't have to worry about damage now that I am already faced with thyroid cancer. I guess to answer your question, I'd probably say that cancer to me is very scary and I'm reviewing my options because I want to ensure I stay in remission rather than possibly incur future cancers outside of the thyroid area. A 1st hand cancer scare makes me think twice about any kind of extra exposure.

To your 2nd point: I've had 2 surgeries this winter but it doesn't sound like radiation will be utilized.

Thanks

Ok, here goes…..

I am a patient at a dental school. My dentist is a senior and closely supervised by the professor.

At one appointment I was going to have a broken off molar removed. Three oral surgery students checked the tooth. They conferred and had a plan for removal. Prof examined me and concurred. One of the students was a blonde natural tall beauty! I asked her if it would hurt - she said no they would use tiny shots of numbing agent. I told her that I was nervous and worried. She consoled me. So I asked if during the procedure she would reassure me and comfort me by holding my hand. She did for a few minutes until she caught on. I told her that she was so beautiful to expect it all the time. I had bet the other guy that I could get her to comfort me. He paid up $10.

Nice try Willy

The only opinion I needed on the subject. Thank you

In my experience a dentist doesn't want you in the chair unless they can make $3000. And my daughter in law is a hygienist 1700 miles away. I don't have bad teeth. She took good care of me for years.

I'm a dentist. Obviously I'm biased. You get more radiation from a flight on an airplane than you do from your yearly dental x-rays though. As Sharon and others stated your dental health will likely be improved through the used of x-rays. The negative aspects are minor but not zero. Any radiation carries risk. I'd consider it well worth the risk however. I feel I can do a much better job for my patients if I have x-rays to use.

Interesting comments so far, thanks.

When I was 12 I had a badly infected tooth. My mom took me to the dentist and he attempted to pull it. After two hours of excruciating pain since he seemed unable to numb the area, he said "Sorry, can't get it, you'll need to go to an oral surgeon." The next year, another bad toothache, mom takes me to same dentist. I showed him what tooth was hurting. He told me I was wrong, there was nothing wrong with that tooth, that it was the one next to it hurting. He pulled the one he said it was. He was wrong. The tooth I said was hurting was still hurting a week later. Went to a different dentist to get it yanked.

Yeah, I'm not fond of dentists.

Finding a good dentist can be tough, yotetrapper30.

ex-dentist again---Finding a good hygienist is even harder. A real hand scaling, root plaining cleaning is real hard to find. Not the water spray cavitron quickie.......jk

Just had dental x-rays done yesterday. Found an minor infection.

After 9 years, I got x rays this week. It went ok.

Don't do it. There's plenty of soup.

Teeth and overall heath are overrated. Do what you want.

I do enjoy going to the dentist. No real clue how dangerous x-rays are to be honest. But it supposed to help with diagnosing problems. Do what you feel is best for you.