[Radiobiological aspects of diagnostic X-ray use in dentistry]

Soon after the discovery of X-rays, it became clear that their use can cause detrimental effects. The field of radiobiology deals with these detrimental effects. In this article, the theoretical concepts of radiobiology relevant to diagnostic X-ray use are presented. The effects of radiation on living tissues, the relationship between dose and effect, and a translation of these effects into the dental application are discussed. X-rays cannot be considered to be harmless even when used at the relatively low doses as in dentistry. If applied with justification and optimization, the risk to the patient will, however, be small.