Why do I need dental X-rays at all?

Roughly half of each tooth, and all of the bone that holds it, is invisible to the eye. X-rays show decay between the teeth, infection at the root tips, bone loss from gum disease, cysts, tumors, impacted teeth, and problems under existing fillings and crowns. Most of these are painless until they are advanced. Finding them early almost always means simpler, less expensive treatment, and occasionally it means finding something that matters far beyond your mouth.

Are dental X-rays safe?

Yes. Dental X-rays are among the lowest-dose medical images there are. A single digital dental X-ray is comparable to less than one day of the natural background radiation everyone receives. We use digital sensors, a tightly collimated beam, and modern equipment that further reduces the dose, and we only take images when there is a clinical reason for them. The benefit of finding a problem early is far greater than the very small risk from the image.

How often should I have X-rays?

It depends on you. The ADA and FDA specifically recommend against fixed schedules. A patient with no history of decay and healthy gums may go two to three years between bitewings; someone with active disease, dry mouth, or a lot of restorative work may need them more often. We decide together, based on your history, your risk, and what we see at the exam.

Why don't you use a lead apron anymore?

In February 2024 the American Dental Association, with support from FDA physicists, published updated recommendations stating that lead aprons and thyroid collars are no longer recommended for dental X-rays. Modern digital equipment and a narrow, rectangular beam do a better job of protecting the rest of the body, and shielding can block part of the image and force a retake. If wearing one makes you more comfortable, just ask. We are happy to provide it.

Is it safe to have dental X-rays during pregnancy?

Yes. The ADA's 2024 recommendations apply to all patients regardless of pregnancy status; the dose to the abdomen from a dental X-ray with a properly collimated beam is negligible. We still take a conservative approach and defer any image that is not needed for a current problem until after delivery. Please tell us if you are or may be pregnant so we can plan together.

What is a cone beam CT, and why would I need one?

A cone beam CT (CBCT) is a three-dimensional X-ray of the jaws that takes a few seconds in the chair. We use it when a flat image cannot answer the question: planning dental implants, evaluating wisdom teeth near the nerve, locating hidden root canals, assessing bone loss, or investigating a cyst or lesion. It uses more radiation than a single small X-ray, so it is never routine; it is ordered for a specific reason and sized to the area we need.

Is the handheld X-ray unit safe for the person holding it?

Yes. The NOMAD Pro 2 is FDA-cleared and designed with internal lead shielding around the tube and a backscatter shield in front of the operator. Published dosimetry studies show that with proper technique, the operator's exposure is a small fraction of the annual occupational limit, well below what dental staff received from older wall-mounted film systems. Our team is trained in its correct use.

Does the 3Shape scanner use radiation?

No. The intraoral scanner uses light, not X-rays. It is essentially a very fast 3D camera. It is completely safe for everyone, including pregnant patients and children, and can be repeated as often as needed.

Can I get copies of my images?

Of course. They are yours. We can send digital X-rays, 3D scans, and intraoral scan files to you or to another provider on request. If you have recent images from a previous dentist, bring them or have them sent, and we will use them instead of taking new ones wherever possible.

How do you keep my radiation exposure low?

Six ways. We use digital sensors only, which need far less radiation than film. We restrict the X-ray beam to the area being imaged with rectangular collimation, which the ADA found protects the rest of the body better than a lead apron. We follow the principle of as low as diagnostically acceptable: every image is justified by a clinical question, never a fixed schedule, and if a recent image exists we ask for it rather than repeat it. We reserve 3D cone beam scans for situations a flat image cannot answer, and use the smallest field of view that will do the job. Our X-ray units are registered with and inspected under the Florida Department of Health's radiation control program and maintained to the manufacturer's specifications. And only licensed, trained team members take images, with technique that gets the picture right the first time.

How much radiation is a dental X-ray, really?

Everyone receives about 3 millisieverts (mSv) of natural background radiation a year in the United States, and dental imaging is measured against that. A single digital intraoral X-ray is about 0.001 to 0.008 mSv, less than a day of background radiation. A panoramic X-ray is about 0.004 to 0.03 mSv, roughly one to a few days. A small field-of-view dental cone beam CT is roughly 0.02 to 0.1 mSv, a few days to about two weeks of background, about the same as a round-trip cross-country flight or two. A cone beam scan uses more radiation than a single small X-ray, which is exactly why we use it selectively, when the information it gives us, such as avoiding a nerve during surgery or catching a lesion early, is well worth it.

Digital & 3D Dental Imaging in Jacksonville, FL

See what we see. Good dentistry starts with a clear, complete picture of what is going on beneath the surface. We use some of the most advanced imaging tools available in dentistry, not because they are new, but because they let us diagnose earlier, plan more carefully, and treat with less guesswork. And every image we take is weighed against one question first: does this help you?

Imaging is part of every new patient visit and every plan we build, from cosmetic dentistry and clear aligners to care for patients with head and neck cancer. Start with the real 3D scan below, then open the sections that follow to see how the technology and our traditional, methodical way of practicing fit together.

On one side, a genuinely modern practice: 3D cone beam imaging, digital intraoral scanning, and handheld digital X-rays, all in the office. On the other, a very traditional way of practicing. We slow down. We look at the whole person, not just the tooth. Each case is planned carefully, by hand, and no two plans are the same, because no two people are.
The technology does not replace that judgment. It informs it. A scanner or a 3D image gives us better information. What we do with that information is still careful, methodical, artistic work.
Our in-office Carestream CS 8100 3D cone beam scanner captures a three-dimensional image of the jaws in a few seconds. A traditional dental X-ray is a flat picture of a curved object. CBCT shows us the real anatomy in every direction: the exact width and height of bone before an implant, the position of a wisdom tooth next to a nerve, the true shape of a root canal, or a cyst or infection that a 2D image can hide.
We use a small field of view, sized to the area we actually need, which keeps the dose low and the detail high.
The 3Shape TRIOS is a small handheld wand that builds a full-color digital 3D model of your teeth and gums in minutes. It replaces the tray of goopy impression material for most crowns, veneers, aligners, night guards, and implant restorations. There is no radiation involved at all.
Because the model is digital, we can design and check restorations on screen, communicate precisely with the lab, and compare scans over time to watch for wear, recession, or movement.
For routine dental X-rays we use the NOMAD Pro 2, a handheld, FDA-cleared digital X-ray unit, paired with digital sensors. The unit’s built-in shielding and backscatter shield, together with the digital sensor, mean each image uses a fraction of the radiation of older film X-rays.
We can take the picture right in the chair, at the exact angle needed, which means fewer retakes and a more comfortable visit.
Imaging is where a plan begins, not where it ends. A 3D scan of your jaw, a digital model of your teeth, and a careful clinical exam are studied together before we recommend anything. Sometimes the answer is a simpler treatment than expected. Sometimes it is a referral. Either way, you will understand what we found, in plain language, and see it yourself on the screen.
The cone beam scan above is a real one from our office. It belongs to Dr. Henley, shared with his own consent and stripped of all identifying data. Rotate it, adjust the density, and switch to the slice views. This is exactly what we look at when we plan your care.

Your Safety Comes First

Radiation safety in our office is not an afterthought. It is built into how we choose equipment, how we take images, and when we decide not to. We use digital sensors only, a tightly collimated beam, and 3D scans only when a flat image cannot answer the question. Our protocols follow the current guidance from the American Dental Association and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and in several areas go further than the minimum.

Below are straight answers to the questions we hear most often about why we take X-rays, how safe they are, and what has changed. Still have questions before your visit? See our FAQ or contact us.

Roughly half of each tooth, and all of the bone that holds it, is invisible to the eye. X-rays show decay between the teeth, infection at the root tips, bone loss from gum disease, cysts, tumors, impacted teeth, and problems under existing fillings and crowns. Most of these are painless until they are advanced. Finding them early almost always means simpler, less expensive treatment, and occasionally it means finding something that matters far beyond your mouth.
Yes. Dental X-rays are among the lowest-dose medical images there are. A single digital dental X-ray is comparable to less than one day of the natural background radiation everyone receives. We use digital sensors, a tightly collimated beam, and modern equipment that further reduces the dose, and we only take images when there is a clinical reason for them. The benefit of finding a problem early is far greater than the very small risk from the image.
It depends on you. The ADA and FDA specifically recommend against fixed schedules. A patient with no history of decay and healthy gums may go two to three years between bitewings; someone with active disease, dry mouth, or a lot of restorative work may need them more often. We decide together, based on your history, your risk, and what we see at the exam.
In February 2024 the American Dental Association, with support from FDA physicists, published updated recommendations stating that lead aprons and thyroid collars are no longer recommended for dental X-rays. Modern digital equipment and a narrow, rectangular beam do a better job of protecting the rest of the body, and shielding can block part of the image and force a retake. If wearing one makes you more comfortable, just ask. We are happy to provide it.
Yes. The ADA’s 2024 recommendations apply to all patients regardless of pregnancy status; the dose to the abdomen from a dental X-ray with a properly collimated beam is negligible. We still take a conservative approach and defer any image that is not needed for a current problem until after delivery. Please tell us if you are or may be pregnant so we can plan together.
A cone beam CT (CBCT) is a three-dimensional X-ray of the jaws that takes a few seconds in the chair. We use it when a flat image cannot answer the question: planning dental implants, evaluating wisdom teeth near the nerve, locating hidden root canals, assessing bone loss, or investigating a cyst or lesion. It uses more radiation than a single small X-ray, so it is never routine; it is ordered for a specific reason and sized to the area we need.
Yes. The NOMAD Pro 2 is FDA-cleared and designed with internal lead shielding around the tube and a backscatter shield in front of the operator. Published dosimetry studies show that with proper technique, the operator’s exposure is a small fraction of the annual occupational limit, well below what dental staff received from older wall-mounted film systems. Our team is trained in its correct use.
No. The intraoral scanner uses light, not X-rays. It is essentially a very fast 3D camera. It is completely safe for everyone, including pregnant patients and children, and can be repeated as often as needed.
Of course. They are yours. We can send digital X-rays, 3D scans, and intraoral scan files to you or to another provider on request. If you have recent images from a previous dentist, bring them or have them sent, and we will use them instead of taking new ones wherever possible.
Six ways.
Digital sensors only. The ADA’s 2024 recommendations call for digital receptors over film because they need far less radiation. We have no film in the office.
Rectangular collimation. The X-ray beam is restricted to the area being imaged, which the ADA panel found protects the rest of the body better than a lead apron does.
As low as diagnostically acceptable. Every image is justified by a clinical question, never a fixed schedule. If a recent image exists, we ask for it rather than repeat it.
3D only when 2D is not enough. Cone beam scans are reserved for situations where a flat image cannot answer the question, exactly as the FDA and ADA advise, and we scan the smallest field of view that will do the job.
Inspected and registered equipment. Our X-ray units are registered with, and inspected under, the Florida Department of Health’s radiation control program, and are maintained to the manufacturer’s specifications.
A trained team. Only licensed, trained team members take images, using positioning and technique that gets the picture right the first time.
Everyone receives a small amount of natural background radiation every day from the ground, the air, and space, about 3 millisieverts (mSv) per year in the United States. Dental imaging is measured against that. These are typical ranges published by radiation safety bodies; the exact number depends on the equipment and settings.
One digital intraoral X-ray (bitewing or periapical): about 0.001 to 0.008 mSv, less than a day of natural background radiation.
Panoramic X-ray: about 0.004 to 0.03 mSv, roughly one to a few days of background.
Small field-of-view dental cone beam CT: roughly 0.02 to 0.1 mSv, a few days to about two weeks of background, about the same as a round-trip cross-country flight or two.
A cone beam scan uses more radiation than a single small X-ray, which is exactly why we use it selectively. When it is the right tool, the information it gives us, such as avoiding a nerve during surgery or catching a lesion early, is well worth it.

Sources

American Dental Association. ADA releases updated recommendations to enhance radiography safety in dentistry (Journal of the American Dental Association, February 2024).
American Dental Association. X-Rays/Radiographs, Oral Health Topics.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dental Cone-beam Computed Tomography.
International Atomic Energy Agency. Radiation doses in dental radiology.
RadiologyInfo.org (ACR and RSNA). Radiation dose from X-ray and CT exams.
National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements. Report No. 177, Radiation Protection in Dentistry and Oral & Maxillofacial Imaging (2019).
Ludlow JB, et al. Effective dose range for dental cone beam computed tomography scanners. Dentomaxillofacial Radiology.
Occupational radiation exposure from handheld dental X-ray devices: a quantitative dosimetric study (2025).
DEXIS / KaVo. NOMAD Pro 2 handheld X-ray system.
3Shape. TRIOS intraoral scanners.

Dose figures are typical published ranges and vary with equipment and settings. This page is general information, not a substitute for advice about your own care. Questions? Call 904.398.1549 or email Smile@cjhenleydmd.com.