How Much Radiation Is in a Child’s Dental X-Ray?
As a dentist providing pediatric dental services for children, one of the most common concerns I hear from parents is about the safety of dental X-rays—especially when it comes to radiation exposure for their children. Let’s break down how much radiation is actually involved, compare it to other common sources of radiation, and explain what we do to keep it to an absolute minimum.
Radiation in Dental X-Rays: How Much Is It?
Dental X-rays, especially those used for children, emit a very low dose of radiation. On average, a single dental X-ray exposes a child to about 0.005 millisieverts (mSv) of radiation. To give you a sense of what that means, the amount of radiation from a typical chest X-ray is around 0.1 mSv, which is about 20 times higher than what’s used for a dental X-ray. Even routine activities like being outside in the sun or flying in an airplane will expose you to more radiation than a dental X-ray.
Is This Radiation Proven to Be Safe?
Yes, the small amount of radiation in a dental X-ray is considered safe, especially when weighed against the benefits of detecting and preventing dental issues early. The radiation levels involved are extremely low, and multiple studies have shown that occasional exposure at this level poses no significant risk to children’s health. The human body is exposed to natural background radiation daily, which averages around 3 mSv per year—far exceeding what’s delivered by a dental X-ray.
How Much Ionizing Radiation Is Harmful?
While the tiny doses in dental X-rays are safe, there’s no denying that excessive exposure to ionizing radiation can be harmful. Long-term or high-dose exposure, especially above 100 mSv over a short period, can increase the risk of health problems like cancer. However, the amount of radiation your child receives from dental X-rays is far below this level, and with modern technology, the exposure continues to decrease.
Reducing Exposure: Our Priority
At Kids Dental Spot, we make every effort to minimize the number of X-rays we take for children. We only recommend them when absolutely necessary, such as to detect cavities between teeth that aren’t visible to the naked eye or to monitor the development of teeth and bone structure. The advanced digital X-rays we use now require far less radiation than traditional film X-rays from years ago.
We also take extra safety precautions, like using lead aprons and thyroid collars to shield your child’s body from any scattered radiation. The lead apron acts as a barrier, further reducing the small amount of radiation exposure.
Why Is Reducing Exposure Important?
Minimizing radiation exposure—no matter how small—is a smart practice for anyone, especially children. Even though the risk from dental X-rays is extremely low, we understand the concerns of parents and aim to make the dental experience as safe as possible. By using modern equipment, taking X-rays only when needed, and applying protective measures, we help ensure that your child’s health and safety come first.
In summary, while the radiation from a children’s dental X-ray is minimal and safe, we always take precautions to limit exposure. At Kids Dental Spot, your child’s well-being is our top priority, and we are committed to using X-rays responsibly and safely.
Kids Dental Spot is a childrens dental office focused providing pediatric dental services to patients in Anaheim, California. Serving kids, children, infants and adolescents in the heart of Orange County and nearby neighborhoods, such as: Fullerton, Brea, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Buena Park, Placentia, and Orange.
Written and Medically Reviewed by Dr. Atiya Bahmanyar, DDS (Board Certified - Doctorate of Dental Surgery)
