How much radiation we receive from each x-ray we take remains a big question.

In dentistry, correct diagnosis is essential for the ideal treatment. Therefore, diagnosis based on clinical examination alone is often insufficient and radiographic examination is needed.

In dentistry, panoramic radiography is a two-dimensional imaging technique where the upper and lower jaws are viewed on a single image. A small tooth image called periapical radiography has an ionizing radiation dose of about 0.001 mSv and panoramic radiography has 0.003 mSv. This is equivalent to nearly 7 hours of daily natural radiation for periapical radiographs and 2 days for panoramic radiographs compared to background radiation, which we encounter in our everyday lives by radon gas, industrial waste, and radiation from space and the earth. In other words, the amount of radiation we receive in a 5-hour flight is equivalent to the radiation dose taken from a panoramic radiograph.

Another scientific fact is the amount of radiation we receive from cigarettes. A person who smokes an average of 1 pack a day receives an amount of radiation equivalent to nearly 100 panoramic radiographs per year.

When more detailed imaging is needed, additional radiographs are required. For example, dental volumetric tomography, a three-dimensional imaging technique, is needed for the relation between the teeth impacted in the jaw bones and the lower jaw nerves and the canal through which the vessels pass, and for the relation between the sinus and the dental roots in the upper jaw. Specialized for dentistry, this technique applies 6-10 times less radiation than computed tomography, but still more than two-dimensional radiographs. So, routine dental volumetric tomography should not be preferred for general planning. It should only be used before implant planning to evaluate surgical risks and to make safe treatment plans before cyst surgery of the jaws.

In conclusion, although there are imaging methods with such low levels of radiation, it is still necessary to wear a lead vest and thyroid protection during radiography. So unnecessary exposure to other organs and tissues can be prevented.