In the dental field the main concern is the effects of dental radiation on children. Panoramic dental x-rays can cause DNA damage and cell death in the oral mucosal cells of these children. The cone beam CT scanner, believed to be safe, is harmful to children as they are more susceptible to the effects of radiation. Children are far more susceptible to changes in their cells resulting from a given dose of radiation than adults because they are still growing, developing and changing. Radiation protection is necessary to protect all children and adults from exposure. The lower the exposure, the fewer problems there will be later in life. Children are more susceptible to changes in their cells if they receive adult doses of radiation. The main risks to children from these scans are the increased risk of them developing cancer and changes in their genes in later life. A study was conducted in Brazil at the Methodist University of Sao Paulo, which included 17 healthy children. 8 of the children were male and 9 female, approximately 7 years of age, who had undergone panoramic dental x-rays on an outpatient basis at the Department of Pediatrics. All panoramic dental x-rays were requested and performed by the dentist. This study was approved by the Human Ethics Committee of UMESP. Before exposure to X-rays, the oral mucosa was collected and then 10 days after exposure to X-rays it was collected again. After the oral mucosa was harvested following exposure to X-rays, radiation levels were tested showing minimal change in effect. The statistics of this study are that, before exposure, 17 children had 0.04-0.06 micronucleated cells and after exposure to X-rays they had 0.05-0.06 micronucleated cells. Very few changes show... in the middle of the paper... when the settings were set to pediatric level, as they should. Protection is one of the most important things to do when protecting a patient from radiation exposure. The lead vest, the lead neck collars, the radiation settings set for each patient rather than a random setting, and the dental assistant's abilities to be competent enough to take the set of x-rays the first time without having to expose the patient numerous times.Bibliography(nd).Aker, M. (2010, December). Retrieved from http://www.stopcancerfund.org/pz-medical-treatments-cancer-risks/danger-at-the-dentists-and-orthodontists-office-children-exposed-to-radiation/.Orthop, A.J. (2013 , June). Retrieved from http://wwwi.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23726328.Ribeiro, F. A. (2007). DNA damage and cell death in oral mucosal cells of children undergoing panoramic dental radiography.