I. Why should dental radiographs be taken? Through dental films, the dentist can find out how extensive the decay is, whether the toothache is caused by inflammation of the pulpal nerve or apical inflammation or periodontal inflammation, whether the condition of the veneer is adequate, the amount of bone needed for dental implants, developmental malformations, certain tumors, etc. In addition, dental radiographs provide a good basis for patient-doctor communication. Therefore, it is necessary to take dental films during the consultation and treatment. Second, what kinds of dental films are there? Dental films mainly include panoramic films (large films) and apical films (small films), and if necessary, computerized X-ray tomography (CT) can be done to assist in the examination. Third, how much radiation is used to take dental films? The dose of dental diagnostic x-rays is not likely to cause disease, and the chance of cancer is minimal. According to the current recommendation of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), the radiation limit for the general population should not exceed 5 mSv per person per year = (5000 microsieverts (μsv)). According to this calculation, each person can receive about 200 intraoral dental X-ray images per year. Therefore, the dose of dental x-ray is very low. 4. If I am pregnant, can I have dental x-rays? In certain dental emergencies, pregnant women may have to have dental films taken before the birth of their baby. Untreated dental infections can pose a potential threat to the fetus. Although the radiation from dental x-ray machines is extremely low, we should still be careful and take precautions to protect ourselves from radiation. Pregnant women should wear a protective apron made of lead around their abdomen during the procedure. Dental x-rays are not uncommon for pregnant or breastfeeding women. If a patient refuses to undergo an X-ray because she does not want to be exposed to free radiation, which may lead to misdiagnosis and deepening of the disease, it is clearly acceptable to undergo radiation exposure for the purpose of diagnosis.