Dental X-Rays at Smiles of Kiln Creek
Why do I need a dental X-ray?
Dental X-rays are used ultimately for us to be able to diagnose any oral concerns, problems, or conditions that are going on in your mouth that we can't see visually during a regular exam. Examples include looking for cavities that are between the teeth, and not only knowing where they are but how deep they are and how close to the nerve. We use them to diagnose our gum disease patients to see how much bone loss you may have.
We also look for abnormal pathology presentations to ensure that nothing is happening under the radar that we wouldn't be able to see in your mouth, on your tongue, or your lips, but more in the bone or around your teeth. Ultimately, it's to ensure that everything is up to par, healthy, and where we like it to be.
What are the different types of dental X-rays?
There are a few different types of X-rays that we might recommend or ask you to do while you're here. When you're a new patient, we do a full-mouth series of X-rays where we take pictures of all of your teeth, from the top parts all the way down to the roots. This allows us to get a full assessment and examination of the status and health of all of your teeth, the bone levels, the roots, the nerves, and the bone around all of your teeth. It's a very in-depth procedure that we typically only do once every 3 to 5 years.
Another type of X-ray we do is called a panorex, which goes all the way around your head and gives us a picture of your jaw, your sinuses, your upper and lower teeth, and where everything's positioned, especially if you have wisdom teeth. We use that X-ray to evaluate if they're impacted or where they're positioned for if we need to discuss having them removed. This gives us a big-picture, zoomed-out look at your oral health.
During routine yearly exams, we usually take X-rays called bitewings, which are just of the back teeth and allow us to look between the teeth to ensure there are no cavities growing there.
For certain implant cases or larger cases that need a more in-depth look, such as for root canal treatment or implant placements, we recommend getting a 3D X-ray. This allows us to slice through an area to look in multiple directions and dimensions, taking specific measurements and examining things in a way that a two-dimensional image doesn't allow.
Are dental X-rays considered safe?
Dental x-rays are considered safe as long as they are used under protocols and recommendations for limiting exposure as much as possible. In dental school, we learn a phrase called "as low as reasonably achievable." This is our standard practice for using radiographs. We never do more than necessary or more frequently than necessary. That's why we have rules, guidelines, and regulations on how often we are allowed to do certain types of X-rays and how long we can wait based on your individual patient needs and presentations.
If you're a patient who doesn't get cavities very often, we can usually postpone X-rays for a year to 18 months. But if you're someone who's had a lot of work done or is in a medically compromised position where you're more cavity-prone, it's in your best interest for us to take X-rays more often to ensure we don't miss anything and to keep you healthy in the long run.
If you’re ready to schedule an exam or would like to learn more about our services, we’d love to hear from you. Call us at (757) 996-4655 or email [email protected]. We look forward to caring for your smile.