Overview

An X-ray is a quick and painless test. It is used to produce images of the inside of your body that can help diagnose or monitor conditions.

Benefits of dental X-rays

An X-ray can give us information about your health, and conditions affecting your teeth, that we cannot get from looking in your mouth.

For example, dental radiographs can show:

• Tooth decay: X-rays allow us to see signs of tooth decay that might not be clear during a regular examination.
• Number of roots: We can see the number of roots a tooth has, which helps us understand its structure and possible complications.
• Closeness to nerve: X-rays show us how close a tooth is to a nerve, which helps us to plan treatments and avoid complications.
• Jaw bone diseases: X-rays can detect diseases that affect the jaw bones, allowing us to diagnose and treat any conditions earlier.

It's important to note that each time you have a dental X-ray, it's a decision made by a qualified member of staff. The decision is based on a careful assessment that balances the benefits of the X-ray against any possible risks.

Using X-rays is the best way for us to understand your oral health, to make well-informed treatment decisions.

If you have questions or concerns about the necessity and safety of dental X-rays, you can discuss them with our radiography team

Ionising radiation

The machine we use for dental X-rays uses a type of radiation called ionising radiation.

Although ionizing radiation can potentially harm body cells, the dose of radiation in dental X-rays is extremely low. This makes the risk very minimal, and there are usually no side effects.

For legal and ethical reasons, X-ray doses must be kept as low as possible to minimise any risk to the patient.

Radiation doses

Radiation occurs naturally, or it can be manmade (X-rays or nuclear power).

Naturally occurring radiation includes:

• some foods, such as brazil nuts and bananas
• the sun
• some rocks, such as granite

Your dental team can tell you the radiation dose for the X-ray you’re having.

Gov.uk has more information about using ionising radiation in medicine.

Pregnancy

When you have a dental X-ray, the X-ray beam does not point at your developing baby. Dental X-rays are considered safe in pregnancy, and can be taken if they are needed for your diagnosis or treatment.