How Dental Radiography – Dental X-ray is a common diagnostic procedure that is considered very safe. Digital dental x-rays have very low doses of radiation, producing only a fraction of what is exposed in other imaging procedures. If you’re worried about whether you need dental X-rays or whether you should avoid the procedure because of other medical conditions, here’s what dental X-rays involve, why they’re done, and how they’re best handled.
There is very little cause for concern when these X-rays are performed properly with proper safety precautions. A typical check-up with four bite-sized X-rays will expose you to roughly the same amount of radiation you’ll experience in an hour or two on a plane.
How Dental Radiography
Dental X-rays are used for diagnostic purposes to help dentists see problems that are not visible to the naked eye. Adult dentists take dental x-rays to better diagnose and treat a variety of problems. Using these X-rays, your doctor can see:
Digital Versus Conventional Radiography In The Dental Office
Without radiography, many of these problems may go undiagnosed. Using X-rays as a reference, dentists are well equipped to prepare dental implants, dentures, braces and other similar treatments.
Many parents are concerned about the effects of dental x-rays on children. Children are sensitive to radiation. However, the amount of radiation from dental x-rays is still considered safe for a child. Since children’s jaws and teeth are constantly changing, it is important to monitor their development. These x-rays serve many important purposes for young patients. They help dentists:
It is important for children to visit the dentist regularly and get X-rays as recommended by the dentist. The exact schedule for these x-rays will vary depending on the child’s individual needs.
Pregnant women are generally advised to avoid dental x-rays. Although radiation exposure is low, it is best to avoid all exposure as much as possible for the health of the developing fetus. For this reason, it is important to tell your dentist that you are pregnant or may become pregnant.
Learn What How Your Dentist Uses Dental X Rays
However, there are some situations in which pregnant women should still have dental x-rays. If you have an emergency or are in the middle of a dental treatment plan, you may need X-rays during pregnancy. Discuss the issue with your dentist to determine the best way to proceed. Balancing your dental and prenatal health is essential. Women with periodontal disease are at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, so don’t neglect your teeth during pregnancy.
Your dentist may take greater precautions, such as using a lead apron and shield collar for all X-rays taken during pregnancy, if the procedure is necessary. Keeping your dentist informed is the best way to proceed.
There are many things your dentist can do to reduce x-ray exposure. Shooting a single image instead of multiple images significantly reduces exposure. You can also talk to your dentist about using the lowest possible radiation setting, especially for children. Lead coatings can protect certain parts of your body from radiation.
The best way to reduce your exposure to dental X-rays is to make sure they are only done when necessary. There is no set schedule for dental radiography. Rather, it is left up to the healthcare provider to decide whether or not a patient needs X-rays. Factors your dentist will consider include:
Dental X Rays At Your Checkup Appointment
One study found that careful clinical evaluation of the patient could reduce the need for X-rays by up to 43 percent without increasing the rate of undiagnosed disease. Therefore, if you are concerned about exposure, ask your dentist for a visual inspection before ordering an x-ray. But remember that there are a few problems with many conditions that can only be diagnosed with X-rays.
To further reduce your need for x-rays, if you have x-rays from a previous dentist, refer them to any new provider to avoid the need for repeat procedures.
Dental X-ray is considered very safe. However, it is important to understand the purpose of any procedure that exposes you to radiation. Don’t hesitate to discuss the need for dental x-rays with your dentist to better understand how they can help protect and improve your oral health.
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Dental X Rays: Panoramic Vs. Traditional
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Great patient experience with Epic Hygiene Dental Laser Stony Plain Dental Center. As one of the largest dental practices in Canada, Stony Plain Dental Center has been serving the community of Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada since 1999. ] Read More Dental X-rays X-rays are an important diagnostic tool for detecting early signs of problems in the mouth, teeth, gums, and jaw. Identifying and treating these problems before they become serious can save you money, pain, and sometimes even your life.
How Are Dental X Rays Advantages?
Dentistry has come a long way with many great advances in x-ray technology, including the use of digital and 3D imaging. At Atlas Dental, we offer faster, safer, and better quality dental X-ray imaging with digital X-ray technology, including intraoral digital X-ray sensors and digital panoramic and cone beam CT scanners.
Before visiting the dentist for dental x-rays, here are some things you should know as a patient:
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Dental X-rays can tell us a lot of information that we cannot see with the naked eye. They help visualize the inside of your teeth and bones, detect and treat dental problems early before they become more serious, including:
Unusual Foreign Body Detected On Routine Dental Radiograph
Dental X-rays were previously captured on photosensitive film, requiring time and traditional film development techniques to develop the image. Like most films, including photography and filmmaking, radiography has gradually moved from conventional film to digital. There are many reasons why digital X-rays are better than traditional X-rays:
Dental digital X-ray film can be viewed instantly on a computer because it does not need to be chemically processed like older film X-rays.
With digital technology, we can create high-resolution X-ray images with less radiation. These digital images can be digitally manipulated on a computer screen to make objects look better. For example, the dentist can artificially enhance the contrast and brightness settings and magnify any areas that require a closer examination, such as small cavities that are difficult to see.
New dental digital x-ray imaging systems now use up to 90% less radiation to produce the same x-ray image. Because it requires much less radiation than traditional X-rays, it reduces the risk of cancer and means a much safer experience for both the patient and the dentists administering the digital X-rays.
X Ray Pathology
Digital X-ray techniques eliminate the need for developing and fixing chemicals required by traditional film techniques. As a result, there is no need for regulated disposal of these environmentally damaging chemicals.
How often you should get X-rays depends on your medical and dental history and your current condition. Some people may need X-rays every six months. Other people who have no recent dental or gum disease and have regular dental visits may need X-rays every two years. New patients may have X-rays taken during their first exam. The first X-rays are also used to compare with X-rays taken over time to look for problems and unexpected changes. People at high risk for dental disease may need more frequent x-rays. These people include:
The amount of radiation emitted from X-rays is very small. Digital X-rays require less radiation to produce a high-resolution image than traditional X-rays used decades ago. Depending on the type of film, equipment and image being shot, this exposure can be reduced by 90%! Thus, it can be said that today’s dental X-ray is very safe.
Compared to not getting dental X-rays, the lower amount of radiation is a significant trade-off. Why? Because diagnostic imaging allows dentists to see inside and around dental structures with pathology (such as bone loss, oral cavities).
