Dental x-rays - why do we need them?8/2/2021  Your dentist or hygienist has asked to take xrays/radiographs of your teeth and your not sure why. And why do they want to take them every 2 years. Tooth decay can be sneaky – it doesn’t tend to show physical signs of its presence early on. X-rays are an important diagnostic tool that allows your dentist to confirm if you have tooth decay. Spotting it early means your dentist can deal with the problem before it becomes significant. Small decay = smaller and cheaper restoration. We take them every 2 years so we can compare and see if there are any changes. Regardless of whether you’re a child or an adult, you can have X-rays safely taken of the inside and outside of your mouth. The amount of radiation involved is extremely low, and is equivalent to the sort of exposure you’d receive on a 1-2 hour flight. This means that even if you’re pregnant you can have X-rays taken, although we generally keep it to a minimum during this period and only take them if absolutely necessary. Why does the dentist/hygienist and assistant leave the room then? Theres nothing to worry about there – we are taking lots of X-rays all day long and stepping out of the room limits their ongoing exposure to radiation. What can dental X-rays detect? • Small areas of decay between teeth not visible in the mouth • Problems with existing fillings, root canals, crowns or bridges • The presence and severity of gum disease • Abscesses or other sorts of infections • Tooth development issues such as malformed teeth, extra or missing teeth • Cysts and some types of tumors • Traumatic injuries such as tooth and bone fractures • Proximity of teeth to nerves and sinuses • Placement of wisdom teeth and if there is a need for them to be removed Call us on 07 4725 3366 if you have any other questions     Comments are closed.
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