Do I Need Dental X-Rays?

X-rays are an essential part of a routine dental checkup and they help your dentist keep your mouth and teeth their healthiest. X-rays are both diagnostic and preventative for your oral health. They’re a big part of helping your dentist realize any dental problems before they turn into larger problems.

If you are a new patient or if you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, they will probably recommend and want to do x-rays. This will help the dentist determine where your oral health is at and they will use this as a baseline if any changes happen in your mouth later on. Dental x-rays are safe, and they only give off a small amount of radiation and your dentist will take the necessary precautions to protect you.

Benefits of Dental X-Rays

Some diseases aren’t visible to the eye which makes diagnosing them without an x-ray difficult. They will show any dental problems in their early development phase so that your dentist can start treatment right away. By treating dental problems early, you will be saving yourself money, any discomfort or pain felt from the problem, and they could even save your life.

What a Dental X-Ray can Show

X-rays give an in-depth look at the teeth, the supporting tissue, and bone in the mouth. X-rays allow your dentist to :

• See any amount of decay between or on your teeth and around any fillings
• Signs of infections in the bones
• Check on the bone health
• Diagnose any early signs of  periodontal disease
• Look at your tooth roots
• Any type of developmental abnormalities
• Any tumors will be shown first on an x-ray even before symptoms arise

How Often do you Need X-Rays?

How often you’ll need to get x-rays will be determined by your medical and dental history as well as your current condition will be taken into account. If you’ve had any recent dental problems then your dentist will probably recommend getting x-rays every six months. If you visit the dentist regularly and don’t have any history of dental problems then your dentist won’t most likely take dental x-rays every time you visit the dentist. Children also get x-rays more frequently than adults.

If you have questions about getting a dental x-ray at your next appointment at All Pro Dental you can always ask either the dentist or any dental hygienist. To schedule your next appointment or with any questions, you can call us at (781) 853 – 0111 or you can contact us directly on our website. We want your oral health to be something you are proud of.