Dental X-Rays

Dental radiographs, or X-rays, are an important part of a thorough dental examination. A full set of X-rays (18) or Panoramic "Pano" is required for patients who are new to a dental practice, or who need extensive treatment. The full set of x-rays and the "Pano" are repeated on an alternating basis every 3 years. Five to seven follow-up X-rays are necessary every 6-18 months.

The most common questions concerning dental X-rays deal with: why they are needed, the amount of radiation exposure, the safety during pregnancy, and recently, the benefit of digital X-ray technology.

Dental X-rays are important for many reasons:

• They can expose hidden dental decay
• Reveal a dental abscess, cyst or tumor
• Show impacted or extra teeth
• Help determine the condition of fillings, crowns, bridges and root canals
• Reveal bone loss from periodontal (gum) disease
• Locate tartar buildup
• Find foreign bodies within the gum or bone
• See if there is enough bone for the placement of dental implants

Some people worry about their exposure to radiation during dental X-ray procedures. This is very understandable in light of the relatively high radiation of some medical X-rays. They may remember a doctor in the emergency room asking them or a female family member if they are pregnant because they need to take a chest X-ray or an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series. Patients who have had cancer may also have a heightened sense of awareness about the radiation that they are receiving at the dental office.

Dentists are very concerned about minimizing the amount of radiation a patient receives at the dental office. That's why we cover patients with a lead apron during X-ray procedures. You will be happy to know that 18 dental X-rays deliver 56,000 times less radiation to an unborn child than an upper GI series, 800 times less radiation than a chest X-ray, and 40 times less radiation than a typical day of background radiation. Dental X-rays are both safe and effective, and can be used during pregnancy.

One new dental technology involving dental X-rays is digital X-rays. They offer the advantage of an 80 percent reduction in radiation, no need for film or processing chemicals, production of a nearly instantaneously image, and the ability to use color contrast in the image. The speed in which a dentist gets to see the image is about three seconds.

Dental X-rays are an important tool in the diagnosis and treatment of dental problems. They do not, however, replace the need for a visual examination of the head, neck, TMJ and oral cavity. It is only with a combination of both the X-ray and the visual examination that the dentist can best treat his or her patients.