Dental X-rays are an important tool used to closely examine your teeth and gums.
They help the dentist diagnose cavities in the teeth, check for infection related to teeth or gums, and check the health of the bone supporting your teeth (in turn related to gum health). Your dentist will decide how frequently X-rays need to be taken, depending on your level of disease risk (i.e. If you have a greater risk of dental decay your X-rays may be taken more frequently).
X-rays are also used to assess developing teeth in children and wisdom teeth in young adults, thus helping to prevent problems from arising and to plan any treatment required.
How does the dentist take dental X-rays?
Dental X-rays are taken either inside or outside the mouth, depending on what needs to be examined.
As a safety precaution, a lead apron is placed over the patient’s torso to protect them from stray radiation, and the X-ray beam is focused on the specific area being examined.
Given the very low radiation exposure, dental X-rays are considered completely safe for all patients other than pregnant women.
At Core Dental, we have replaced conventional X-rays with digital radiographs – using a high-speed, state-of-the-art imaging process that further reduces exposure time and further limits the small the amount of radiation emitted. Digital radiographs also offer the convenience of high-quality images that can be displayed on a computer screen for you to see during your consultation.
If you have any concerns about the safety of dental X-rays, don’t hesitate to raise them with your friendly dentist.