Dental X-Rays in Los Angeles: Radiation, Safety, and What Holistic Dentists Do Differently

DENTAL X-RAYS AND RADIATION SAFETY · LOS ANGELES

X-rays are a clinical tool, not a routine. We treat them that way.

Many patients arrive at Rite Dentist having been told they need “routine” X-rays at every visit regardless of their individual history, risk factors, or the clinical findings of the exam. Holistic dentistry takes a different view. X-rays are a powerful diagnostic tool that involve ionizing radiation. That radiation accumulates over a lifetime. At Rite Dentist in Los Angeles, we only take X-rays when the clinical benefit clearly outweighs the exposure, and when we do, we use the lowest-radiation technology available.

Written by the clinical team at Rite Dentist. Last updated July 2026.

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What Kind of Radiation Do Dental X-Rays Involve?

Dental X-rays use ionizing radiation, which is the same type produced by gamma rays, radon gas, and cosmic radiation from the sun. Unlike non-ionizing radiation (radio waves, microwaves, visible light), ionizing radiation has enough energy to remove electrons from atoms and potentially damage DNA.

The relevant question is not whether dental X-rays involve radiation. They do. The question is whether the dose is clinically meaningful.

At modern doses with digital equipment, individual dental X-rays expose patients to very small amounts of radiation. A standard bitewing X-ray delivers approximately 0.005 millisieverts (mSv), compared to the 3.1 mSv average annual background radiation exposure every person receives from naturally occurring sources. A full-mouth series with digital sensors delivers roughly 0.04 to 0.15 mSv.

These doses are low. But cumulative radiation exposure matters, and the principle of ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) is the standard in responsible dental radiology. Taking X-rays that are not clinically indicated adds unnecessary exposure, even if each individual X-ray carries a small dose. We follow ALARA at Rite Dentist and take X-rays when they are needed, not on a fixed schedule.

What Holistic Dentists Do Differently with X-Rays

Digital sensors instead of film. Digital radiography reduces X-ray exposure by 60 to 90% compared to traditional film X-rays while producing sharper, instantly viewable images. We use exclusively digital technology at Rite Dentist. Film X-rays have no place in a modern practice committed to minimizing radiation.

Clinical need-based scheduling. Conventional dentistry has traditionally prescribed full-mouth X-ray series every three years and bitewings every year or two as a standard protocol. Holistic dentistry evaluates each patient individually. A low-risk adult with excellent hygiene, no symptoms, and no history of cavities does not need annual bitewing X-rays. A patient with active decay, complex restorative history, or suspected bone changes may need targeted imaging more frequently. The X-ray schedule is driven by the patient’s clinical situation, not by insurance billing cycles.

Thyroid collar as standard. We use a thyroid collar on every patient for every X-ray. The thyroid is one of the most radiation-sensitive tissues in the body. The collar adds essentially no inconvenience and meaningfully reduces thyroid dose, particularly for panoramic X-rays which pass through the neck region.

Lead apron for all patients. Standard practice at every visit involving radiographs, regardless of patient age or pregnancy status.

Cone beam CT used selectively. 3D CBCT imaging delivers more radiation than 2D dental X-rays (roughly 0.05 to 0.2 mSv for a limited field of view scan). We use CBCT when the clinical information it provides cannot be obtained by other means and clearly justifies the exposure, not as a routine screening tool.

X-rays and pregnancy
Pregnant patients should avoid elective dental X-rays, particularly in the first trimester. When X-rays are clinically necessary, digital technology, a lead apron, and a thyroid collar minimize exposure substantially. We discuss this with every patient of reproductive age and defer non-urgent imaging whenever possible during pregnancy.

Can you decline dental X-rays?
Yes. You have the right to decline any diagnostic procedure, including X-rays. If you decline, we document that the recommendation was made and that you declined. However, be aware that without X-rays we may miss decay between teeth, bone loss, abscesses, or other conditions that are not visible in a clinical exam. Declining X-rays is your right; we will simply have less information to work with.

90%
Less radiation with digital dental X-ray sensors compared to traditional film, while producing sharper diagnostic images

0.005
Millisieverts per bitewing — compared to 3.1 mSv annual background radiation every person absorbs from the natural environment

ALARA
Our guiding principle for X-ray use — As Low As Reasonably Achievable. Every imaging decision is evaluated against this standard

Frequently Asked Questions: Dental X-Rays in Los Angeles

How often should dental X-rays be taken?

The answer depends on the individual patient. The American Dental Association recommends risk-stratified X-ray intervals: lower-risk adults with good hygiene and no active disease can go 2 to 3 years between bitewing X-rays. Higher-risk patients may need them annually. Children generally need X-rays more frequently because their teeth are changing and cavities progress faster. We assess your individual risk at every visit and recommend imaging accordingly.

Are dental X-rays safe during cancer treatment?

Patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy have a reduced ability to repair cellular damage from radiation. We take a highly conservative approach to X-ray use for these patients, limiting imaging to what is absolutely necessary for active treatment planning. If you are in cancer treatment or recently completed it, please tell us before any appointment so we can adjust our protocols accordingly.

What is a panoramic X-ray and when is it needed?

A panoramic X-ray (also called OPG or orthopantomogram) captures the entire jaw, teeth, and surrounding bone structures in a single image. It is useful for assessing wisdom teeth, jaw bone density, TMJ anatomy, sinus involvement, and large pathology like cysts or tumors. We do not take panoramic X-rays routinely. They are ordered when there is a specific clinical question that requires a full-jaw view that bitewings or periapical X-rays cannot answer.

Can X-rays detect cavitations or jawbone problems?

Standard 2D dental X-rays often miss cavitations and subtle bone changes because they flatten a three-dimensional structure into two dimensions. Cone beam CT (CBCT) provides a volumetric view that reveals density changes, hollow areas, and structural abnormalities invisible on standard radiographs. When we suspect jawbone pathology, CBCT is the appropriate imaging tool despite its higher dose — the diagnostic information justifies the exposure.

Do digital X-rays eliminate radiation risk entirely?

No. Digital X-rays significantly reduce radiation dose, but they do not eliminate it. They are far better than film in this regard, and the doses involved are genuinely small. However, we still apply the ALARA principle because even small cumulative exposures matter over a lifetime, and there is no clinical justification for taking X-rays that are not needed.

What if I am transferring from another dentist who took recent X-rays?

We are always happy to work from recent X-rays taken at your previous dentist. Please request copies in digital format before your appointment. If your prior X-rays are recent and diagnostic quality, we will not take new ones simply because you are a new patient. Retaking X-rays without clinical justification conflicts with the ALARA principle we follow.

Evidence-Based Imaging. Nothing More, Nothing Less.

At Rite Dentist in Los Angeles, every X-ray is a clinical decision, not a habit. Book an exam where your radiation exposure is treated as seriously as your oral health.

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Shayan Shahabi