Dental X-Rays

dental xraysWhen x-rays are passed through your mouth, more x-rays are absorbed by the denser parts of your mouth, such as teeth and bone, than by soft tissues. The x-rays strike the film that is behind your tooth, and this creates an image on the film. Tooth decay, infections, gum disease and other signs of dental change in your mouth appear darker because of more x-ray penetration.

X-rays help dentists diagnose relatively common disorders such as:
cavities, periodontal disease and infections, and some of the more uncommon problems, such as cysts, abscesses and tumors.

Are dental x-rays safe?

The radiation to which you are exposed during the taking of dental x-rays is extremely small.The digital x-ray system is more sensitive than dental x-ray film systems, so exposure to x-rays is cut by as much as 90 percent.
Dental x-rays are not without risk, but the risk is minuscule compared with the huge diagnostic benefit of keeping your natural teeth healthy and disease free.

A full mouth series of dental x-rays is recommended for new patients. A full series is usually good for three to five years. Bite-wing x-rays (x-rays of top and bottom teeth biting together) are taken at recall (check-up) visits and are recommended once or twice a year to detect new dental problems.