Dental x-rays are necessary to identify irregularities or problem areas in the mouth before they surface. X-Rays are a great diagnostic tool! They can also help your dentist see any damage or disease that wouldn’t otherwise be visible. With x-rays, dentists can accurately diagnose and treat dental problems before they become too serious or advanced. This means less pain, time, and money than what it would be if caught at a later stage of development.
The importance of dental x-rays
Dental x-rays are important tools to gain information about the development of teeth under the gum tissue and in between teeth that are touching tightly. They are a critical part of a dental exam since a clinical exam alone is not able to visualize these areas. The appropriate timing for introducing and updating x-rays depends on your child’s comfort level, stage in dental development, risk for cavities, and history of dental trauma. Even though baby teeth will fall out, it is very important to take care of them because the enamel of baby teeth is much thinner than permanent teeth. For this reason, children need x-rays more often than adults. Children’s mouths change and grow rapidly so we want to make sure we monitor those changes frequently. We follow the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry for the frequency and indication of x-rays as part of a dental exam and use all digital x-rays in our office to minimize exposure.
Types of dental x-rays
There are many types of dental x-rays but bitewings, occlusal, periapical(PA) and panoramic are the most common and they each have a purpose. Bitewings are taken to help your dentist locate cavities between molars (back teeth) and bicuspids (teeth in front of the molars) that would be hard to see otherwise. Occlusal images show the arch of the teeth to identify trauma, extra/missing teeth, and infection. Periapical x-rays typically focus on one or two teeth and show the entire length from root to crown. Panoramic x-rays are an image of the entire mouth that are taken at specific phases to monitor growth and development.
Why are dental x-rays helpful?
So now you are aware that x-rays are important, but you might be wondering, “What specifically do they identify?”
Problems that can be detected by dental x-rays include:
-wisdom teeth
-tooth decay
-teeth growing in abnormal directions
-Root health
-jaw placement
-overall facial bone composition
While having a dental hygienist or dentist examine your teeth is beneficial. Dental x-rays can detect damage or disease that are not otherwise visible in an examination. If you have any questions about x-rays and their importance, contact us today!