At a recent dental visit, I expressed my concern about X rays. The dentist insisted that they were safe, and I consented to have them done. The lab technician forgot to put a lead shield over my body before the X rays were taken. Your dentist or technician should always use shielding whenever an X ray is taken.
X rays knock electrons out of their orbits around an atom's nucleus, creating charged particles.
In smaller doses, it can damage DNA, potentially harming the immune system and promoting cancer. I have always said there is no such thing as a safe dose of radiation. Radiologists have a shorter life expectancy than other doctors and a higher incidence of radiation-related cancers. Any dose, however small, adds to your cumulative level, which is what determines your health risk at any given time. If you're not having problems with your teeth and don't show any symptoms of tooth decay, you should resist having dental X rays taken, except occasionally.