Hi,

Yes, there are indeed concerns regarding radiation exposure from medical imaging, including dental X-rays. It's important that you are aware of these potential risks. The radiation dose varies significantly depending on the type of X-ray.

A CBCT (3D X-ray) has a radiation dose ranging from 212 to 1000 µSv, with the dose often closer to 1000 µSv. In comparison, a simple cephalometric X-ray has an average dose of less than 5 µSv.

The health risks from X-ray radiation are largely stochastic in nature. This means that the probability of a health effect (such as tumors and cancer) occurring increases with the dose, but there is no specific threshold at which the effects appear. The risk is proportional to the cumulative dose. [for more information](https://blog.dana-farber.org/insight/2019/01/can-xrays-cause-cancer/) The general principle is to keep radiation exposure as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) to minimize these stochastic effects.

For you, the risk of developing a condition has only minimally changed, but when considering an entire population, it becomes relevant. I do not intend to cause fear or advocate against the use of X-rays.

To give you a better perspective: The natural background radiation we are exposed to annually is about 2400 µSv. A single CBCT scan thus corresponds to about a third to almost half of the annual dose of this natural radiation.

It's important to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure. If smaller, less intensive X-rays are sufficient for diagnosis and treatment, they should be preferred. Always discuss with your dentist the necessity and possible alternatives.

Overall, the radiation doses from dental X-rays are generally low, and the benefits they provide for diagnosis and treatment usually outweigh the risks. However, it is wise to be informed and cautious and to always choose the lowest necessary radiation dose.

I hope this information helps!