Yes. Modern dental x-rays use very low doses, and each one must justify itself.
The American Dental Association says dentists follow ALARA, as low as reasonably achievable: every exposure is justified by its benefit, digital sensors and shielding keep doses minimal, and doses stay well below allowable limits. The ADA considers radiographs safe during pregnancy at any stage with proper shielding when needed for treatment, though you should always say if you are or might be pregnant. The joint FDA and ADA guidance frames each x-ray as a balance between diagnostic benefit and cumulative exposure, which is why imaging is matched to your risk rather than done by habit. Skipping needed x-rays is the bigger risk: hidden decay and infections do more harm than the dose.
What to do
Common questions
Are dental x-rays safe?
Yes, dental x-rays are considered safe. Modern digital dental x-rays use very small radiation doses, a fraction of what older film systems used, and dentists work to the ALARA principle: as low as reasonably achievable. The American Dental Association requires that every x-ray is justified by its benefit and that doses stay well below allowable limits, using fast digital sensors and protective shielding to minimize exposure. The ADA also says radiographs are considered safe for pregnant patients at any stage of pregnancy with proper shielding when they are necessary for treatment, so pregnancy alone is not a reason to skip a needed image, though you should always tell the team. The risk math is also worth flipping: undiagnosed decay, hidden infections, and bone loss cause far more certain harm than the tiny dose from a set of bitewings. The FDA and ADA joint guidance tells dentists to weigh each image's diagnostic benefit against cumulative exposure, which is why you are not x-rayed at every visit. If you have recent x-rays from another practice, ask for them to be transferred so nothing is repeated needlessly.