The Importance of Dental X-Rays in Preventive Dentistry

You pay attention to your oral health, dutifully seeing your dentist twice a year. But is it really necessary to have dental x-rays every time you go? You may not realize it, but dental x-rays are an important part of preventive dentistry. What’s more, with the introduction of digital dental x-rays, dentists can now see issues much more clearly, and patients are exposed to much lower levels of radiation.

Understanding the Benefits of Dental X-Rays for Safeguarding Oral Health

What makes dental x-rays so important? First, they help dentists identify problems early on, when they’re most easily treated. When issues like obstructed teeth, decay, and periodontal conditions can be detected while they’re still in the early stages, deterioration can be slowed or even reversed, and aggressive procedures can often be avoided. What’s more, when your dentist takes regular x-rays of your teeth, a baseline is established, and this can help your dentist monitor changes in your oral health. The detailed insights garnered from digital dental x-rays allow dentists to customize treatment to each individual patient. At the same time, dentists can use digital x-rays as a teaching tool, in order to educate patients and empower them to better care for their oral health. Overall, dental x-rays just allow for a more thorough understanding of what is going on in the patient’s mouth.

Different Types of Dental X-Rays

In order to get a complete picture of a patient’s oral health, doctors have to take x-rays from both inside and outside the mouth.

• Intraoral x-rays are the x-rays taken inside the mouth. This is the type of x-rays with which most people are very familiar. They include bitewings, periapical, and occlusal X-rays, they offer high detail of teeth, bone, and surrounding tissues, and traditionally, they’ve been fairly uncomfortable. Digital x-rays for intraoral imaging are more advanced, take less time, and take high resolution images so that dentists can easily detect cavities, check bone levels, assess tooth development, and evaluate root canals. Additionally, they are more comfortable for patients.
• Extraoral describes the external x-rays, taken outside the mouth. These x-rays are used to get a broader overview of the jaw, skull, and face. Types of extraoral x-rays include panoramic, cephalometric projections, and cone-beam CTs. These kinds of x-rays are good for diagnosing disorders like TMJ, assessing the development of the jaw and facial bones, evaluating impacted teeth, and customizing orthodontic treatments.

Traditional vs Digital Dental X-Rays

Traditional x-rays have been used for a very long time in medical imaging. They work by exposing photographic film to radiation, to imprint an image on the film, which is then developed to reveal the final image. They are still used in many practices, primarily because the equipment is less expensive than that required for digital x-rays. Digital x-rays are a fairly recent innovation. In these x-rays, a digital sensor is exposed to the radiation instead of film, and this reduces radiation exposure significantly: by as much as 80 percent. The results of a digital x-ray can be seen on a computer monitor within seconds of being taken, and can be easily shared with other healthcare providers.

Are Dental X-Rays Safe?

Dental x-rays use radiation, but it’s in very low doses. In fact, a patient who undergoes four bitewing x-rays is exposed to the same amount of radiation as he or she would be exposed to during a flight or spending a few days outside. Additionally, dentists take safety precautions to protect their patients, and they only order x-rays when necessary. If you are anxious about x-rays that have been ordered for you, discuss your concerns with your dentist.

Benefits of Digital Dental X-Rays

While even traditional x-rays are safe, digital dental x-rays offer even lower radiation exposure, while providing images that are of superior quality. Digital dental x-rays are faster and less of a hassle than traditional x-rays, and what’s more, they’re more environmentally friendly. While traditional x-rays need chemical developers and fixers to produce an image, digital x-rays don’t use any chemicals, making them a much eco-friendlier option. Perhaps the biggest benefit of digital dental x-rays, however, is how easy they make communication and collaboration. Digital images are electronically stored, so they don’t require physical storage space, and they can be shared digitally, in contrast to traditional x-rays, which typically must be mailed. This makes it easier and more convenient for healthcare professionals to collaborate.

FAQs

• Why are dental x-rays necessary?
  • Dental x-rays are a helpful tool in a dentist’s arsenal. The dentist can assess your teeth by visually examining them, but to see beneath the gum line and inside the teeth themselves, x-rays are needed. Using x-rays, the dentist can catch small issues, like newly forming cavities, and address them before they can become big problems.
• How often should a patient have dental x-rays?
  • This depends on the patient. Some need dental x-rays twice a year, some annually, and some need frequent x-rays to monitor the progress of treatment they’re undergoing.
• Do digital x-rays have lower radiation than traditional x-rays?
  • Yes, digital x-rays have about 80 percent less radiation than traditional x-rays, which already use a very low amount.

Need an Arlington Dentist? Contact CNS Dental of Crystal City Arlington

Whether you simply need a routine check-up or you’re looking for advanced care like restorative or cosmetic dentistry, CNS Dental of Crystal City Arlington is here for you. We are committed to providing our clients with expert dental services, using state of the art technology, in a relaxing, inviting environment. Treating patients across the Arlington, VA and D.C. metro area, we offer everything from dental cleanings to cosmetic dentistry to Invisalign® to emergency dental services, and our compassionate staff works to make each visit as enjoyable and comfortable as possible. Contact us through our website for more information or to schedule an appointment.