the real problem is patients who fear or avoid medical/dental xrays.

Knowing whether or not you have an actual infection/pathology is MUCH more important than avoiding some miniscule, almost none existent dose of radiation. the amount of energy and time it takes to convince patients to take a simple xray when they come in excruciating pain is absolutely nonsensical.

That said, I will continue to operate by the ALARA principle. But ALARA for me just means to avoid using imaging willy-nilly. if there is ANY reasonable benefit to be gained from a diagnostic film, we take the radiograph