How safe is a cone-beam CT scan?

Cone-beam CT scanners are specialized for scans of the head and face region and can focus on a very specific area. This means that a cone-beam scan requires much less radiation exposure than other types of scans that produce three-dimensional images. Modern cone-beam scanners emit comparable amounts of radiation to the x-ray machines in common use in dental clinics today. This is roughly equivalent to the amount of background radiation absorbed during a week on earth. Cone-beam scanners are even safe enough for children.