What Are Dental X-Rays And Why Are They Performed?

Properly aligned and professionally whitened teeth give you a beautiful smile and improve your speech. Among all other body parts, tooth enamel is the hardest one and quite essential for chewing all kinds of food. One has to face tooth decay if enamel, dentin, pulp, cementum, and periodontal ligament of the teeth are affected. The main reason for tooth decay is the deficiency of calcium phosphate, sensitivity, and more.

Visiting a dentist is mandatory for good oral health. A dentist will observe and detect teeth problems during the oral examination. Sometimes teeth diseases are unidentified by oral examination and may suggest taking an X-ray of the teeth. Though X-rays are complex from a patient’s perspective, they emit very less radiation and are even safe for children and women.

X-ray pictures help dentists to detect too small cavities under the gum line or tissues. This allows them to prescribe proper treatment for the disease. Early detection could save the patient from unnecessary struggles and sometimes life too.

If you are in search of family dental care near you, then you could book an appointment with Dr. Reza Hekmat, a Rancho Bernardo dentist in San Diego, California. His dedicated dentist team offers personalized treatment and care until your oral health recovers. His dental clinic includes advanced equipment and provides services such as dental cleanings and exams, porcelain veneers, root canal treatment, and more.

Dr. Hekmat’s approach toward patients is quite different from other dentists. He focuses on communicating with his patients much as an individual first and later proceeds with the best possible modern treatment processes. That’s the reason why people consider him as the best dentist Rancho Bernardo. This family dentist helps each patient to achieve and maintain long-lasting oral health and a beautiful smile.

Why Dental X-rays?

Generally, x-rays are done annually, unless your dentist has to treat any of the teeth diseases. However, depending upon the following factors one needs to go through the X-ray process.

  • Age
  • Present dental health
  • Pain and symptoms
  • Genetically gum diseases like gingivitis or tooth decay

Any reputed dentist Rancho Bernardo will suggest you get an X-ray done if they notice anything out of the usual. After examining the X-ray report, they will understand your oral health condition in a much better way, to start with their general and restorative treatment to fulfil your needs.

Children get X-rays done more frequently when compared to adults. This is because their dentist will observe whether adult teeth are growing well or behind the baby teeth. If it is so, then the baby’s teeth have to be pulled by the dentist to avoid further complications.

Problems Detected By Dental X-rays

The following are the common problems in both children and adults that any dentist can detect easily in an x-ray.

  • In adults
  • Shows decaying areas.
  • Reveals gum disease, bone loss, or changes in the bones.
  • Shows off the Infections with root canal treatment.
  • Useful for implants, dentures, braces, or any other dental care treatments.
  • Reveals an abscess infection between gum and teeth.
  • In Children
  • Check for any decay
  • Determine whether all upcoming teeth fit the mouth.
  • Checking for wisdom teeth and monitoring for any impacted teeth.
  • Reveals all abnormalities either a cyst or some kind of tumor.

Preparation for X-ray

Before taking Dental X-rays, you must brush your teeth. This will allow a clean environment for the dentist to work inside your mouth. At the X-ray laboratory, you have to take your seat with a lead belt covering your chest as well as your lap to prevent radiation upon other organs. The X-ray machine will be positioned exactly on top for recording the mouth images.

Types of Dental X-rays

Dental X-rays are mainly of two types. One is intraoral and the other is extraoral. The Intraoral x-rays are the images of the inner area of the mouth whereas extraoral are the outside images of the mouth.

  • Intraoral X-rays

These are the common dental X-rays that are used to find tooth decay by your dentist. They provide a lot of information about your tooth root, surrounding bones, developing teeth, and your oral health including your jawbone.

The common types of intraoral X-rays are Bite-wing X-rays, Periapical X-rays, occlusal X-rays, and panoramic X-rays.

  • Extraoral X-rays

They are mainly used to identify the major problems between teeth and jaws. They are helpful to monitor impacted teeth and developing jaws. Also, your dentist can observe temporomandibular disorders or any other bones of the face.

Some types of extraoral X-rays are Panoramic X-rays, Tomograms, cephalometric projections, sialography, and computed tomography.

When An X-ray Should Be Taken?

Depending upon your dental health and history, when an X-ray is needed will be determined by your dentist. This happens quite differently among patients.  It is performed half-yearly for some people. For some others, it may be only once for two years, if no dental issue is identified.

Just like a brush and floss, if you go for regular dental check-ups and consider X-rays, you can maintain your oral health in top condition. In case of any dental issue, whether it may be periodontal disease, gingivitis, or any other major one, Dr. Hekmat will be happy to offer you insurance coverage. If you opt for their in-office insurance plans, you and your family members will experience a beautiful smile and healthy mouth.

 

 

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