Digital technology has revolutionized the way dentist practice their craft. Radiography (digital x-ray) is the cutting-edge technology used today to capture dental X-rays. Instead of X-ray film, electronic sensors are used to capture and collect the digital photo on a computer.  These images can be magnified to assist dentists and dental hygienists to easily detect complications. Digital x-rays successfully reduce up to 90% of radiation compared to traditional x-rays.

Dental x-rays provide important details and information that would otherwise be unavailable during a regular dental examination. Dentists carefully use the information found to detect hidden dental irregularities and implement a precise treatment strategy.  Areas with complication may go undetected without a digital X-ray procedure.

Dental x-rays may reveal bone loss, abscesses (collection of pus that has built up within the tissue of the body) or cysts, decay between the teeth, developmental irregularities, poor tooth and root position, and complications inside a tooth or below the gum line. You will save time, money, discomfort, and your teeth if you detect and treat the complication at an early stage!

Are dental x-rays safe and how often should they be taken?

Compared to traditional dental X-rays, digital X-rays have an exponentially lower level of radiation. Although dental X-rays are extremely safe, dentists still take precautionary measures to reduce the radiation exposure for a patient by using lead aprons to protect the body and only capture X-rays that are essential to the diagnosis.

Dental x-rays are contingent upon a patient’s dental health needs. You Dentist or hygienist will reference essential X-rays based upon a dental examination, signs and symptoms, risk of disease, age and medical history.

New patients are encouraged to take a full mouth series of dental x-rays, which is sufficient for three to five years. However, Bite-wing x-rays (x-ray of teeth biting together) are encouraged biannually to identify any irregularities.