Radiation hazards, protection, and dosimetry
Oral Medicine and Radiology · Dental (BDS)
Study notes
A patient fears dental X-rays are dangerous. What is the honest teaching answer? Dental doses are tiny (a few microsieverts - comparable to daily background radiation), digital sensors cut dose further, and ALARA governs every exposure: justified, shielded (apron/collar), and never routine without reason. Students learn to answer fear with facts: the risk of missing disease without the X-ray exceeds the tiny radiation risk with it.
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