The Necessity and Benefits of Dental X-RAYS

The Necessity  of  Dental X-RAYS


The benefits of X-rays are well known: They help dentists diagnose common problems such as cavities, gum disease and some types of infections. X-rays allow dentists to see inside a tooth and beneath the gums. Without them, more disease would go unchecked. Treatment would begin later. As a result, people would have more pain and lose more teeth.

What Dental X-RAYS Show?

Intraoral X-rays are the most common type of radiograph taken in dentistry. They give a high level of detail of the tooth, bone and supporting tissues of the mouth. These X-rays allow dentists to:
Find cavities
Look at the tooth roots
Check the health of the bony area around the tooth
Help diagnose periodontal disease
See the status of developing teeth



Why Dental X-Rays Are Performed

Dental X-rays are typically performed through portable dental x rays machine yearly, or more often if your dentist is tracking the progress of a dental problem or treatment.
Factors affecting how often you get dental X-rays may include:

• your age - Children and teens who have a history of many cavities may need X-rays every six months or every year, depending on age. So may those who have a high risk of decay for other reasons. X-rays also help to keep track of tooth development.
  
• your current oral health - People with many fillings, crowns, bridges or other restorations.  — X-rays help the dentist find decay beneath your fillings and crowns or in new places.
• any symptoms of oral disease -  People with dry mouth or periodontal (gum) disease - Saliva helps keep your mouth and teeth healthy by regulating the acid levels (pH) in the mouth.   X-rays can reveal signs of bone loss. If this has happened, then you may need periodontal (gum) surgery.
• Smokers — Smoking increases the risk of bone loss around the teeth and periodontal disease.

Are Dental X-Rays Dangerous? 

Dental x-rays are safe. Any kind of x-ray requires radiation, but with dental x-rays, the amount of radiation is very small. And today’s modern digital x-rays require much less radiation for exposure than traditional film x-rays do.
Here’s what CNN says about dental x-rays: “Four bitewing x-rays, which is what many people get in a routine exam, give about .005 millisieverts of radiation, according to the American College of Radiology. That's about the same amount of radiation you get in a normal day from the sun and other sources.”

After Dental X-Rays

When the images are ready — instantly in the case of digital X-rays — your dentist will review them and check for abnormalities. If a dental hygienist is cleaning your teeth, the dentist may go over the results of the X-rays with you after your cleaning is done. The exception is if the hygienist discovers any significant problems during the X-rays.
If your dentist finds problems, such as cavities or tooth decay, they’ll discuss your treatment options. If your dentist finds no problems, keep up the good work!


Source:  http://www.oyodental.com/blog/2017/10/31/the-necessity-and-benefits-of-x-rays/