There’s a lot going on in your
mouth that is not visible to the naked eye, and dental X-rays allow your
dentist to see what’s happening below the surface. By taking X-rays,
your dentist is provided with a comprehensive assessment of the health
of your mouth.
No visible signs of trouble
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, or if you have any problems such as infection around
the roots of the tooth, or bone loss. Spotting it early means your
dentist can deal with the problem before it becomes significant.
Safe for everyone
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 they are generally kept to a minimum during this period.
Oh, and that thing about your dentist
leaving the room while the X-rays are taken? Nothing to worry about
there – they’re taking lots of X-rays all day long and stepping out of
the room limits their ongoing exposure to radiation.
Why X-rays are needed
The types of X-rays your dentist will
take will depend on the conditions for which you are being
assessed. The decision to take an X-ray, and the type of X-ray taken,
will be influenced by such things as your past and present oral health,
an examination of your mouth, your age, risk of disease and any early
symptoms of oral disease.
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 etc.
• Cysts and some types of tumours
• Traumatic injuries such as tooth and bone fractures
• Proximity of teeth to nerves and sinuses
• The development of wisdom teeth and if there is a need for them to be removed
• The amount of bone needed for dental implants
If an X-ray shows decay, your dentist will discuss treatment options with you, which may be preventive to slow or stop further progression of the decay, or may involve a filling if there is an actual cavity.
– Australian Dental Association “Dental X-Rays”
