Digital x-rays use much less radiation than film x-rays (90% less), and provide the dentist with high resolution images that are needed to see decay, infections, bone loss, and oral cancers that would otherwise be undetectable. 4 dental bitewings produce. A digital X-ray requires less radiation to capture a high-resolution image than the traditional X-rays used a few decades ago. Depending on the type of film, equipment, and image being taken, it may be as much as a 90% reduction in exposure! As such, it’s safe to say that today’s dental X-rays are extremely safe. Four bitewings (typical during a recall exam) is about 0.005 mSv (millisieverts), which is less than the daily dose of radiation people get in daily life.