What are Dental X-rays?
A dental x-ray can be useful in identifying problem areas when a typical exam simply isn’t enough. Your smile can be compared to an iceberg, where there’s a lot going on below the surface that we just cannot see with the naked eye. With the help of x-ray technology, we get a glimpse of your dental health so that treatment is more effective and efficient. X-rays are safe because only a miniscule amount of radiation is needed to create high-definition images.
Why might Dental X-rays be needed?
Dental x-rays are often taken at bi-annual dental checkup visits as well as prior to surgery or orthodontic treatment. We may even take x-rays before, during or after a root canal to ensure that all canals of the tooth are being treated. X-rays are typically necessary if a patient comes to us for an emergency, since the image allows us to get to the root cause of their pain or discomfort. X-rays help us to identify areas that are decayed, infected, abscessed, cracked or broken.
Who is a candidate for Dental X-rays?
Most patients, regardless of age, are good candidates for dental x-rays. Dental x-ray technology has come a very long way. Only a small amount of radiation is needed to produce an x-ray image, so you can feel safe knowing that the benefits of having x-rays taken far outweigh any possible problems that would come from it. If you’re a new patient who doesn’t have their own set of x-rays, we will normally recommend a full set of radiographs to help us in creating a treatment plan for you.
What happens during the Dental X-ray process?
We begin by draping a lead apron over your body to protect you from radiation while the x-ray machine is in use. We then position a small device inside the mouth and angle the machine towards this device. The image is taken and the device moved to another area of the mouth. The process is repeated until all of the necessary x-rays have been taken. We then review these x-rays to help in creating a personalized treatment plan just for you.
If you would like to come into our office for new dental x-rays, call us today so that we can get you in for an appointment as soon as possible.