Dental x-rays are recommended at least once a year to identify dental cavities. While still safe, traditional x-rays have a bad reputation of exposing patients to higher levels of radiation. However, with new technology, dental x-rays have reduced radiation exposure significantly.
Annual maximum dosage of radiation for a U.S. radiation worker is 50 mSv. The dosage of digital bitewings, which is 4 total x-rays, is 0.02 mSv. There are several other forms of radiation in life to consider that give off more radiation than digital dental x-rays.