Answer to Question #14962 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Medical and Dental Patient Issues — Dental

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

Q

My son went to the orthodontist where they performed both a panoramic x ray and a regular dental x ray. The hygienist kept the button depressed for over a minute each time. Was radiation being emitted the whole time?

A

Not to worry, radiation was not being emitted the entire time. Panoramic x-ray machines have built in parameters that determine exactly how long they expose the patient to radiation. Patients are never exposed to more radiation than necessary to form the final image. The act of pressing and holding the button is simply telling the machine that it is time for it to operate. Once the machine has finished capturing what it needs, the radiation exposure shuts off regardless of how long the button is being pressed down. It's impossible for the machine operator to continue to expose the patient. Every x-ray machine that is used in dentistry operates with similar features to minimize radiation exposure to patients.

Benjamin Crockett DMD MS

Answer posted on 11 May 2023. The information posted on this web page is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may affect the applicability of concepts, materials, and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice. To the best of our knowledge, answers are correct at the time they are posted. Be advised that over time, requirements could change, new data could be made available, and Internet links could change, affecting the correctness of the answers. Answers are the professional opinions of the expert responding to each question; they do not necessarily represent the position of the Health Physics Society.