I love that my family dentist is tech-savvy. It's so easy to book a dentist on his smartphone app if I have a tooth problem or if anyone in my family needs emergency problems (I can choose either my normal dentist or another dentist in his practise depending on availability). He also has some great cameras so that we can see exactly what is going on during treatment. I prefer not to see this, but my kids love to be able to see the dentist using his specialised tools to clean and repair their teeth. This blog has some tips on finding a tech-savvy dentist to help give your family the best possible dental care.
When you attend your dentist, you may be told that you need X-rays. But what's the purpose of dental X-rays, and are they safe?
The purpose of dental X-rays
Because much of your teeth (the roots) are concealed by your gums and jawbone, your dentist is unable to carry out a visual examination of these areas. X-rays enable the dentist to get a clearer picture of hidden areas.
X-rays use ionizing radiation to penetrate the soft tissue in your mouth, showing up the structures beneath in different depths of shadow. The shadows are captured as digital images or films called 'radiographs'. The dentist can then use these images to look at the hidden parts of the teeth.
The levels of radiation used in the process of taking dental X-rays is very small and presents no danger to your health
When X-rays are required
When you join a new dental practice, your dentist will probably request that you have a panoramic radiograph, especially if some time has elapsed since you last had one and certainly if you haven't been to a dentist for some considerable time.
A panoramic radiograph provides images of your head, sinuses, jawbone, neck, and teeth. This enables your dentist to make good assessment of the overall health of all these areas and can be an extremely efficient way to discovering 'silent' conditions that are not currently presenting symptoms. In addition to deep tooth decay, serious illnesses such as cancer can be detected by using panoramic radiographs.
Once your overall oral health has been established, your dentist may take more detailed images of individual teeth from various angles. These images provide the dentist with information on gum disease, tooth decay, and bone loss and will help them to formulate a suitable treatment plan for you.
Regular radiographs may be recommended to allow the dentist to monitor your mouth for potential problems, enabling them to be nipped in the bud before they become more serious. The frequency of these radiographs will to some extent depend on your history and on the previous treatments you have had.
In conclusion
Dental X-rays may seem like an unnecessary expense, but they are a very important tool that your dentist uses to monitor your dental and oral health, as well as in determining the appropriate course of treatment for specific problems and conditions.
For more information about dental X-rays or dentures, have a chat with your dentist.
Share