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A 17-year-old male asked:

Can x-rays from doctor, and dentist cause cancer? averaging 2 x rays a year, for teeth using film in the mouth.

5 doctor answers15 doctors weighed in
Dr. Kayvon Javid
Dentistry 22 years experience
No: That is very unlikely. Although it is not good to be exposed with radiation too many times but twice a year should not cause cancer.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Addagada Rao
General Surgery 58 years experience
NO: Diagnostic x ray emits very little radiation dental x-rays even much less , your exposure twice a year is very safe . Speak to your doctor.All with in the safe limits
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Arnold Malerman
Orthodontics 55 years experience
No risk: You get more radiation spending a day in the mountains skiing or 2 days on the beach than from a 20 film full mouth series. All x-rays are cumulative, so we all try exceedingly hard to only take films necessary for diagnosis an to limit total exposure. It's risk vas benefit. The risk of cancer from dental x-rays is so small as to be statistically nonexistent. Don't worry.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Jeffrey Bassman
Dentistry 47 years experience
Doubtful: Would need a lot more x-rays than twice a year to cause some cancerous cells. Make sure the dental office uses the proper precautions with lead aprons- thyroid and covering the upper body.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Gary Sandler
Dentistry 56 years experience
X-ray risk: Everything has risks, including breathing, eating, and as a matter of fact, even sleeping in your bed at night. When proper precautions are taken and only used for what is judged necessary diagnostic purposes, the risks of routine dental x-rays are minute, while the risks of not taking them is probably more dangerous to your health. Digital x-rays have even less risk.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Last updated Nov 24, 2016

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