la dentista

so i went to the dentist yesterday. and while i was getting x-rays taken (x-rays that i apparently didn't need and for which my mother chastized me) i got to thinking: how safe are these things? i'm beginning to think that the lead apron they place across your vitals is only there to make you THINK the x-ray is safe. i mean really, how safe is it to have that thing inches away from your brain, shooting rays of radiation? my suspicion isn't helped by the fact that the dentist's aid is scurrying out of the room every time she takes an x-ray, no doubt to escape the harmful rays. and here i am, sitting here with this thing pointed at my fucking face.