Dental X-Rays
When it comes to dental care, you can’t just rely on what you can see with the naked eye. It takes a trained professional with the right equipment to truly assess the health of your teeth, gums and entire mouth.
By getting a dental X-ray, your dentist will be able to tell exactly what is going on with your mouth. Therefore, helping you make better decisions for your health.
Why Do I Need a Dental X-Ray?
Mouth issues like gum disease and tooth decay can sneak up on anyone, often not showing physical signs early on. Typically, it is suggested that you get dental X-rays every 18 months to 3 years depending on your dental history. This helps to catch any issues before they get worse and cause you physical pain or discomfort.
While there are different types of dental X-rays, which you receive will depend on a variety of elements, such as your past and present oral health, your age, and any other factors that may lead to risk of disease.
Are There Any Risks?
Dental X-rays taken inside of the mouth are perfectly safe for anyone, whether they are a child or adult. The levels of radiation involved in a mouth X-ray are extremely low, equivalent to the radiation you would be exposed to on a short aeroplane trip. Even if you are pregnant, it is safe to have a mouth X-ray taken, although they should be kept to a minimum during this time.
Some people wonder why their dentist needs to leave the room while an X-ray is being taken, but this is simply to ensure they are not exposed to ongoing background radiation over the day. For our patients, the minimal exposure to X-ray radiation is perfectly safe.
Do I Need to Prepare?
When you have an appointment for a dental X-ray, there is nothing significant you need to do beforehand. Simply brush your teeth as normal before coming in, making it easier for the dentist to work in your mouth.
At the dentist’s office, all you will need to do is sit still while the machine is aligned with your mouth, so that it can record images which will be used to assess your dental health.
What Can Dental X-rays Detect?
There are a variety of issues that can be picked up by a mouth X-ray, including:
- Small areas of decay between teeth
- Problems with existing fillings, root canals, crowns or bridges
- The presence and severity of gum disease
- Abscesses or other sorts of infections
- Tooth development issues such as malformed teeth, extra or missing teeth, etc.
- Cysts and some types of tumours
- Traumatic injuries such as tooth and bone fractures
- Proximity of teeth to nerves and sinuses
- The development of wisdom teeth and if there is a need for them to be removed
- The amount of bone needed for dental implants
If an X-ray shows decay, your dentist will discuss treatment options with you. This may be to slow or stop further progression of the decay, and may involve a filling if the decay is of a significant size.
When it is time to arrange a dental appointment for you or your child, it is important to choose a dentist who takes into consideration all of the above factors as to if and when x-rays are required and what the best treatment options are. Bayside residents choose Park Road Dental to help with all their oral health needs. Give our friendly staff a call on (03) 9584 4949 , or complete our online contact form today.
