Dental x-Rays
Dental X-Rays: See the Complete Picture of Your Oral Health
At our practice, we use state-of-the-art digital X-ray technology to protect your smile and catch potential problems before they become painful or expensive. These crystal-clear images allow us to see beneath the surface of your teeth and gums with remarkable precision – revealing hidden cavities, checking the health of tooth roots, and monitoring your jawbone density. With up to 90% less radiation than traditional film X-rays and instant results that appear on screen within seconds, our digital imaging makes your dental visits faster, safer, and more comfortable. Best of all, this advanced diagnostic tool helps us create personalized treatment plans that keep your smile healthy for life, often catching issues early when they're simplest and most affordable to treat.
Dental radiographs (x-rays) are essential, preventative, diagnostic tools that provide valuable information not visible during a regular dental exam. Dentists and dental hygienists use this information to safely and accurately detect hidden dental abnormalities and complete an accurate treatment plan. Without x-rays, problem areas may go undetected.
Dental x-rays may reveal:
- Abscesses or cysts.
- Bone loss.
- Cancerous and non-cancerous tumors.
- Decay between the teeth.
- Developmental abnormalities.
- Poor tooth and root positions.
- Problems inside a tooth or below the gum line.
Detecting and treating dental problems at an early stage can save you time, money, unnecessary discomfort, and your teeth!
Are dental x-rays safe?
We are all exposed to natural radiation in our environment. The amount of radiation exposure from a full mouth series of x-rays is equal to the amount a person receives in a single day from natural sources.
Dental x-rays produce a low level of radiation and are considered safe. Dentists take necessary precautions to limit the patient’s exposure to radiation when taking dental x-rays. These precautions include using lead apron shields to protect the body and using modern, fast film that cuts down the exposure time of each x-ray.
How often should dental x-rays be taken?
The need for dental x-rays depends on each patient’s individual dental health needs. Your dentist and dental hygienist will recommend necessary x-rays based on the review of your medical and dental history, dental exam, signs and symptoms, age consideration, and risk for disease.
A full mouth series of dental x-rays is recommended for new patients. A full series is usually good for three to five years. Bite-wing x-rays (x-rays of top and bottom teeth biting together) are taken at recare (check-up) visits and are recommended once or twice a year to detect new dental problems.