Sincerely,
disgruntled respondent

Dear disgruntled respondent,

Sounds like you rinsed and spat Go Ask Alice! out of your bookmark list a long time ago, but maybe one of those people you'd never refer here is browsing right now because s/he knows that all 1,200 - 1,500 questions submitted each week are read, and that sometimes answers are posted to questions posed months earlier because careful research is needed for accurate, up-to-date responses. Whether or not a question is answered, all submitters should receive an immediate electronic acknowledgment of their inquiry. Oh, one more thing before getting to the root of this query: while many readers know that oral sex cannot result in pregnancy, some lose serious sleep worrying about these and other concerns, which can be embarrassing to bring up with real live people. C'mon, everyone has been baffled at one time or another about questions to which they're sure everyone else in the world has answers.

Now, some of you may think that this question about radiation is a big joke, but it's actually interesting and frequently discussed. Dental x-rays are an important tool for assessing oral health. They allow dentists to diagnose gum, bone, and endodontic (inside the tooth) diseases, as well as see cavities that may be between your teeth, hidden from view. Without the help of dental x-rays, these problems could be overlooked, leading to discomfort, bad breath, chewing difficulty, loss of teeth, and other complications associated with poor dental health. To help put things in perspective, a full set of dental x-rays is equivalent to about one day's typical exposure to the sun and other environmental rays. Considering that people are constantly surrounded by these rays, which can even travel through windows and buildings, exposure through dental x-rays is comparably minimal. Therefore, the benefits definitely outweigh the dangers.

A complete set of dental x-rays includes fourteen to eighteen images of different areas of your mouth and jaw. These should be taken once every two to five years, depending on your oral health. Check-up x-rays, called "bitewings," are needed every one to two years, again depending on your individual situation. One way to minimize repeat or unnecessary x-rays is to develop an ongoing relationship with your dentist so that s/he can track your oral hygiene and health consistently. If you switch dentists, have the previous provider send a copy of your records to the new office. This way, the new Dr. Tooth can have an accurate picture of your dental care needs. To protect the rest of your body from dental x-rays, dentists are required to cover your chest and stomach with one of those lovely lead aprons.

As far as flying in an airplane goes, the radiation you'd receive from a full set of dental x-rays is about the same as what you'd get from flying between New York City and Denver, or, again, an average day's exposure to environmental rays. All in all, nothing your body can't handle.

Speaking of aviation, nice Jefferson Airplane reference.

Alice

P.S.:

Q: When's the best time to go to the dentist?

A: Tooth-hurty.

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