An international team of dental experts has launched the Image Gently campaign to reduce children’s exposure to radiation in dental exams. Backed by the American Dental Association (ADA), American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and other influential professional dental organizations worldwide, the Image Gently campaign acknowledges that children are more vulnerable to the risks of x-rays and other imaging techniques, and hopes to encourage dentists to stop giving children routine dental x-rays.

The campaign’s goal is the “promotion of responsible use of radiofacial radiology in dentistry for children”—mainly x-rays of the teeth, which most children are now subjected to once (or more!) every year for no medical reason. Image Gentlyoutlines a six-step plan for the safest clinical practice. The number one item on the list? Only using x-rays when they’re needed, not as a routine part of the exam.

Additionally, dentists should be using the fastest possible equipment and lowest possible radiation dose, expose the smallest area possible to the radiation beam, have all children wear a protective collar to shield their thyroid, and avoid cone-beam computed tomography unless it’s necessary.

(Source: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology, 2014,link)