How many oral x-rays are too many?

I had 12 today and another 10 during the previous week. Are 22 x-rays in 2 weeks unhealthful for me?

4 prior to root canal, 6 partial mouth, 12 to complete full oral.
I'm due for a chest x-ray this week and all this being zapped has me concerned. . .wish I could step out of the room too.

You're fine. An entire fullmouth x-ray series (18-20) is about equivalent to a week's worth of background radiation- what you get just from living every week. A chest x-ray is equal to about 10 days of background radiation.
Dental x-rays use much lower exposures than what is used on other parts of your body, like you chest for instance. This is because of the differences in anatomy and density of tissues in different areas- more energy is needed to get through some areas than others.
22 x-rays is not too much when you're talking dental x-rays. Not a big deal at all. Now if you told me you'd had 22 chest x-rays I'd be a little more concerned...

lol no. If it was I would be dead as well.

You get more radiation from a day out in the sun. Were they digital? even less. Why did they take two sets of xrays on different days?

Nope.
22 isn't unhealthy at all.
Consider this... a full mouth series of xrays consists of 18 xrays. Then, if a patient were to need treatment, further xrays might be taken when the treatment is rendered. So, 22 isn't too far fetched.

It is fine a full set of xrays which is about 20 films, is equivalent to a flight from Boston to Florida if it is measured by atmospheric radiation.

Nahhhhhhh, you're fine.

The amount of radiation that comes out of the tube is soooooo minimal, and I'm sure they placed the lead apron with the thyroid collar on you for additional safety...

You won't need any xrays again until a year from now, when you have your second checkup... most offices take xrays annually....

:)

go for one, the ortho pantomo gram, OPG. Its a panoramic view. Just one big one. Too much radiation is not good. In root cannals you need to take 3-4 X rays for the single tooth during the procedure.

Who's your oral surgeon? Any doctor with a good medical background would know that 22 x-rays are way to much. You don't have any serious oral condition do you?