A regular dental exam may not fully give a picture of your overall dental health. This is why dental x-rays or radiographs are used by dentists to detect hidden potential issues that may affect dental health and develop effective treatment plans before these issues get worse. Through radiographs, dentists may be able to detect the following:

• tooth decay
• tumors (both cancerous and non-cancerous)
• cysts or abscesses
• bone loss
• poor positioning of tooth and root
• problems inside the tooth
• problems below the gum line
• developmental abnormalities

Safety Of Dental X-Rays

There are some people who question the safety of dental X-rays due to the radiation that they emit. What they do not know is that the radiation level that they are exposed to during a dental radiography is the same level they receive from the environment in a day.

In this case, dental x-rays are generally safe. To ensure limited exposure of the patient to the radiation, dentists make use of state-of-art equipment and follow safety measures and precautions.

Frequency of Dental X-Rays

How often a patient needs dental x-rays varies. The dentist and hygienist will help identify the necessity of dental x-rays after careful evaluation of your dental health needs and thorough dental examination.

Typically, new patients are encouraged to go for a full mouth dental x-ray which is to five years. During follow up checkups which are part of Dental Clinic Services in Carrollton, Texas, bite-wing x-rays may be recommended to identify potential dental problems.