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The old method of taking x-rays of a person's mouth, using film and a radioactive source, is being replaced with the modern procedure of digital radiography, or digital x-rays. Digital radiography is done with an electronic sensor that makes digital images of the teeth and stores them on a computer. The dentist can immediately view the pictures and resize them to inspect close-up for any issues. Although there is still some radiation exposure to the patient using digital radiography, it's now only 10-20% of what the patient used to get from a traditional film x-ray.
X-rays give the dentist a view into areas of the teeth and jaws that cannot otherwise been seen during an oral exam. These views help dentists discover any hidden problems so they can come up with a comprehensive plan to address any issues they find. If x-rays were not performed, many problems in the mouth may not get noticed and worsen over time.
Some of the things that x-rays can help dentists see include:
- Cysts
- Abscesses
- Deterioration of the jawbones
- Cancer
- Tooth decay hidden against tight-fitting teeth
- Issues that may prevent normal development of teeth or bone structure
- A problem inside a tooth or under the gum line that is not visible or detectible without x-rays
- Problems discovered early by the use of x-rays can be prevented saving the patient a lot of pain, money, and possibly teeth.
Yes, Dental X-Rays are Safe
There is natural radiation around us every day that we get exposure to. The modern digital x-ray exposes the patient to only one-tenth of the radiation generated by the traditional x-ray system, which was safe to begin with. Digital x-rays are fast and comfortable, and obviously healthier for the patient because of the reduced exposure to radiation. Digital x-rays are also environmentally-friendly, since the images are generated on a computer, not by developing x-ray film using hazardous chemicals that must be disposed of.
Regardless of the lower exposure level presented to patients using digital x-rays, dentists still err on the side of safety to minimize radiation exposure. This is accomplished by the continued use of a lead apron to block rays from other parts of the body, and minimizing the number of pictures taken, which reduces overall exposure.
Do I need X-Rays Every Time I Visit A Dentist?
The answer to that question really lies more with the patient than the dentist. Risk factors are the primary reason dentists take x-rays on multiple occasions, and may be due to the patient's age, existing issues found during an exam, the medical history of the patient, or underlying symptoms.
If you're visiting a dentist for the first time, it is common practice to take a full set of x-rays as a baseline. These images will be useful to the dentist for 3-5 years. During every checkup or every other checkup, dentists may take x-rays of the bite wings to show how the upper and lower teeth match and help uncover any possible new issues.
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