Dental X-rays

Jaw X-ray, Teeth X-ray, X-ray, Dental

What To Think About

• Dental X-ray equipment is safe and uses very little radiation. Provinces often have strict regulations and inspection procedures to check the safety of X-rays and X-ray equipment. Oral health professionals are taught to take high-quality X-rays with a small amount of radiation exposure to you.
• If you are going to a new dentist, have your other dentist send copies of your dental X-rays to your new dentist. You may not need any more X-rays with your new dentist.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) dental X-ray guidelines, which are also followed in Canada, are for people who are seeing a dentist regularly, do not have tooth decay, and do not have a high risk of getting cavities.
  • Adults should have bite wing X-rays every 2 to 3 years.
  • Teens should have bite wing X-rays every 1½ to 3 years.
  • Children should have bite wing X-rays every 1 to 2 years.
• The following guidelines are for people who have tooth decay and are seeing a dentist regularly or have a high risk of getting cavities.
  • Adults should have bite wing X-rays every 6 months to 18 months.
  • Teens should have bite wing X-rays every 6 to 12 months until no tooth decay is seen.
  • Children should have bite wing X-rays every 6 months until no tooth decay is seen.
• Your dentist may have specific reasons for recommending a dental X-ray at other times.
• Many dentists think that all adults should have a panoramic X-ray every 2 to 5 years to check for mouth and teeth problems.
• Some dentists use digital radiography. This method uses an electronic sensor instead of X-ray film. An electronic image is taken and stored in a computer. This image can be viewed on a computer screen. Less radiation is needed to make an image with digital radiography than with standard dental X-rays.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: December 1, 2006
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Arden Christen, DDS, MSD, MA, FACD - Dentistry Steven K. Patterson, BSc, DDS, MPH - Dentist
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