Apparently Dr. Oz had a recent program detailing the dangers of dental x-rays and in particular whether dental x-rays contribute to thyroid cancer. My research indicates he is overstating the risk.

Now don’t get me wrong, we believe in minimizing dental radiation.  That is why we were one of the first in Calgary to introduce digital x-rays. They reduce the radiation down to one third of our old film x-rays which were already pretty low. In addition we do not just take x-rays for the heck of it. In fact this link (http://www.doctorspiller.com/Dental%20_X-Rays.htm ) gives a few examples of how quickly decay can progress and how an early x-ray can make the difference between saving and losing a tooth.

This link however is more to the point of whether dental x-rays increase the risk of thyroid problems; http://www.thyroid.org/patients/patient_brochures/cancer_of_thyroid.html . It is from the site of the American Thyroid Association. To quote one paragraph, “Routine X-ray exposure (eg, dental X-rays, chest X-rays, mammograms) does not cause thyroid cancer.”

This article states that neither chest x-rays nor dental x-rays are a concern, and as you will see below a chest x-ray has 250 times as much radiation as a dental x-ray. So if even a chest x-ray is safe a dental x-ray almost does not even register.

Dr Oz seems to be very knowledgeable, but I would think the American Thryoid Association would be the higher authority on the matter.

As indicated above, for those really keen to get an in depth education on x-ray exposure, I am attaching a link to an excellent article.  http://www.doctorspiller.com/Dental%20_X-Rays.htm

For those that want the Coles Notes version it is as follows:

Radiation exposure is measured in units called mREM

An x-ray of the lower abdomen exposes you to 406 mREM, and they usually take at least 3 shots from different angles which totals 1218 mREM.

A chest x-ray is 80 mRem (also usually 3 shots so 240 mREM).

Your normal exposure to radiation just from the sun and living on planet earth is 360 mREM per year (more if you fly a lot or spend a lot of time outside).

A dental x-ray is 0.95 mREM. In our office where we use computerized digital x-rays, that amount is reduced by at least two thirds, so say 0.29 mREM.

Unless we see something that does not look right, we usually take 2 x-rays every year. That averages about  0.58 mREM per year. Even a full mouth panoramic x-ray is only the equivalent of 2 regular x-rays or 0.58 mREM and these are taken once every 5 years at most.

So in summary of my summary; the amount of radiation we can be exposed to per year and still fall within the government approved safe limit is 5000 mREM per year.

Our normal radiation exposure from the sun, tv, computers, and even food is 360 mREM per year

Typical dental x-rays add an additional 0.58 per year. That is .0116% of the dose considered safe.

So x-rays, like everything we do should be measured in accordance with benefit vs. risks. The risk level of today’s dental x-rays are miniscule, and the benefits are huge when you consider the things we can see that we otherwise could not.

So Dr Oz may have reason to be alarmed by the radiation in some medical x-rays, and he should continue to warn people not to agree to those on a whim. However, he should not presume dental x-rays are in way equivalent to what he is used to dealing with in the medical world.

By the way, most medical technicians do not even offer a lead apron to protect other parts of your body, which has always been standard for dental professionals. For those concerned about extra protection we even have lead aprons with thyroid collars that also cover the neck.

Dr Oz needs to be a little controversial to get people to watch his show. But please remember his show is about entertainment as well as health. And nothing attracts viewers better than a little controversy or sensationalism.