The short version
- X-rays are taken only when they will change care, not on a fixed schedule
- Digital X-rays and a tightly focused beam keep the dose very low
- Lead aprons and thyroid collars are no longer recommended by the ADA
Some of the most important problems in a child’s mouth are invisible to the eye: cavities between teeth, adult teeth that are missing or coming in crooked, and infections at the root. X-rays let us find these early, when treatment is smaller.
Only when needed
In 2024 the ADA, with support from medical physicists at the FDA, published updated recommendations on dental imaging safety. The core message: X-rays should be ordered only when the information will benefit the patient’s care, and previous images should be reused when possible. How often your child needs them depends on their age and cavity risk, not on a calendar.
Why the lead apron disappeared
The same ADA panel reviewed the evidence and concluded that lead abdominal aprons and thyroid collars are not needed to protect patients during dental X-rays. Modern digital sensors and a beam restricted to just the area being imaged already protect the rest of the body. Aprons can also get in the way of the beam, which can mean having to retake the image. Virginia does not require patient shielding for digital dental X-rays except in rare situations where the beam would cross the reproductive organs.
How we keep exposure low
- Digital sensors instead of film
- The smallest beam size that captures what we need
- Careful positioning so images rarely need retaking
- Reviewing records from other dentists before taking new ones
Changing dentists? Ask your previous office to send recent X-rays so we can avoid repeating them.
Sources
- ADA: Updated recommendations to enhance radiography safety
- Virginia Dental Association: What Virginia law says about shielding
General information, not a diagnosis. Talk with your child's dentist about their specific needs.