Why Does Your Dentist Take an X-Ray of Your Mouth?

You go to the dental office for regular checkups every six months, and a lot of the time, you need to have a dental x-ray before the start of your appointment. But what is the reason behind this? If you aren’t in any pain, why does your dentist in Edison need to look below the surface of your smile? Continue reading to learn more about dental x-rays, how they work, and how often you need to get them done.

How Do Dental X-Rays Work?

A dental x-ray is a photo that is taken of the inside of your teeth and beneath your gums. Low levels of radiation are used in order to capture these images because soft tissues do not easily absorb radiation. However, both bones and teeth do, so they are the things that show up when the photo is taken. When compared to old school film x-rays, it is apparent that digital x-rays (which are used by most dentists today) produce approximately 90% less radiation levels, clearer images, and they process much faster than ever before. They also organize the images into easily transferrable files.

What Issues Do Dental X-Rays Find?

Dental x-rays allow dental professionals to see a lot more than what they normally would by just looking in the mouth with the naked eye. Just because your teeth look perfectly healthy above the gumline doesn’t mean that you don’t have any issues beneath the surface. With the help of dental x-rays, dentists are able to diagnose issues more easily, like tooth decay, bone loss, impacted teeth, and other oral health problems.

How Often Are Dental X-Rays Needed?

The number of x-rays needed depends on a few different factors. As for kids, x-rays are needed more often because the teeth are continuing to erupt. Patients who haven’t been to the dentist in a while may also need additional x-rays on a regular basis. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, like a toothache, this may call for one as well. For most patients, x-rays are needed once a year so that their dentist has all of the up-to-date information they need to provide proper treatment.

Your dentist can only see so much above the surface of your gums, which is why dental x-rays are so important. By seeing your dentist for regular checkups, with x-rays included, you are giving them everything they need to treat oral health issues with more accuracy.

About the Author

Dr. Hiren H. Shah earned his dental doctorate from New York University and has spent a lot of time receiving additional educational training in a variety of different topics. Currently, he is an active member of the American Dental Association and the New Jersey Dental Association. For more information on regular dental x-rays or to schedule an appointment, visit his website or call (908) 834-8448.