dentist gave me 20 xrays of my mouth.....scared im gonna get cancer

[brad1243]

I went to the dentist the other day for a cleaning and they have me like 20 x rays....usally I get like 4 but my new dentist gave me like 20. I didn't say something because I figured they knew what they are doing. Obviously I googled and found an article that dental xrays are linked to cancer. 

[greend]

I went to the dentist last week and had one x-ray.  I asked if it was safe because I like you, I don't like getting them.  I forget the number he gave me, but a dental x-ray emits a fraction of the radiation that let's say a cat scan puts out (a cat scan emits something like 3000x the radiation than a dental x-ray) and people get them all the time.  So really I wouldn't worry too much.

[Hohum]

Hah - I went for an appointment with a new dentist today and had 20 x-rays too!

To be honest I'm not too concerned about the supposed link between brain tumors and dental x-rays. Millions of people have dental x-rays worldwide every day, and have done since the technology was discovered. It's certainly much safer to have an x-ray today than it was, say, 20 years ago. Brain cancer on the other hand is still extremely rare. If there was a real and present danger to the populous from these x-rays we'd be seeing an epidemic by now!!

Try not to worry too much. Oral health is very important too, so I think that the x-rays are a small risk to take for a healthy mouth!

[LindaRK]

Wow, 20 x-rays sure seems like alot of x-rays for a standard appointment!

There is such a low-dose of radiation in dental x-rays, there is really nothing to worry about.  Better to take care of your teeth, as that can prevent heart disease, among other things.

[sixpack]

that is a lot of x-rays.


BUT you know radiation is actually how MANY cancers are treated.

[brad1243]

I was googling some more and I found out they were using a digital xray. Apparently the radiation dose is so little u dont even need to wear the lead apron but im still worried 

[Hohum]

Googling is going to do you no good, sorry to say. You're searching for reassurance but you'll never find it in this state of mind - no matter what you read will just lead to more "oh...well what if's?".

All this talk about "increased risk" is a bit of scaremongering in my book. Every time you go for a drive or walk across the street, there's a CHANCE something bad could happen. That's just life! Dental x-rays have been used regularly now for almost 100 years. Just go look at how low the incidence of brain cancer is on an annual basis, and imagine how many people have had dental x-rays during that time. As time goes by, x-rays are only going to get safer and safer too.

Try not to read too much into one study performed on a limited group. I'm really sure that you will be fine.