Dental X-rays if an often necessary procedure in dental examination and diagnosis. X-rays provide a dentist the ability to realize the condition of a tooth root, jaw bone, and other circumstances that they can not perceive with a bare eye. Today’s post of dental implants Harrisburg NC experts will be dedicated to the subject of X-rays to help our readers better understand its function and answer the most frequent questions related to this diagnostic apparatus.
Table Of Contents
What is a dental X-ray device?
A dental X-ray is a device also known as a radiograph, that provides a two-dimensional image of tooth and bone anatomy. There can be two types of dental X-rays depending on if taken inside a mouth (intraoral) or outside the mouth (extraoral).
There are six types of dental X-rays: Bitewing, Periapical, Occlusal, Panoramic, Cone Beam X-ray, and Chepalometric projection. The most common ones used in dental practice are Bitewing (which provides an image of crowns of both upper and down teeth in the same image, suitable for detecting a cavity between teeth), Periapical (shows the image of the complete tooth and is adequate in detecting an abscess) and Panoramic (provides a view to all teeth, joints, jawbones, and sinuses).
Modern x-ray devices are creating digital images that dentists can share with other specialists to provide better diagnose and treatment for particular conditions.
Are dental x-rays safe?
Dental x-rays are considered very safe for use. Although this device uses radiation to produce an image, the level of radiation is insignificant and can not cause any health issues. The amount of radiation that person is exposed to in a process of an x-ray is less than 0,1% of radiation people are usually exposed to during daily activities. For example, cooking meals in natural gas produces greater radiation than a dental x-ray.
After the first dental x-ray is manufactured the radiation of x-ray exposure is greatly reduced with newer technology. Today, the average dental x-ray emirates radiation of approximately 0,005 msV.
The safety of a dental x-ray is a common concern of pregnant women. However, even though a dental x-ray is considered safe during pregnancy, most dentists will postpone the x-ray after birth or at least until the third semester. Therefore, if your dentist suggests an x-ray examination, you should inform them if you are pregnant.
The process of getting a dental x-ray
The x-ray process in patients considers placing a lead apron on the patient`s chest to create a protection from radiation. Also, as protection, a dentist or an assistant might place a thyroid collar around the patient to protect the area. Thyroid collars are especially recommended for patients that are pregnant women and children.
After installing protection, an x-ray sensor will be placed in a part of the patient’s mouth that requires examination. Although the x-ray process is painless, some people that have a small mouth or strong gag reflex will find this process uncomfortable.
How often should someone take an x.ray examination varies from different factors. The dentist will determine if a need for an x-ray regarding your age, risk factors for developing a certain condition, oral health history, present state, and other particularities.
People that usually require more often x-ray examinations are those who smoke, have a few dental works already, those with gum diseases, people with dry mouth, and children with jaw and teeth development issues.
The issues that x-ray can detect
A dental X-ray is an important part of the examination and sometimes is even necessary for making a diagnosis. The things that a dental x-ray can show are:
- Existence of decay
- The cavity between the teeth and under restorations and ceramic or metal-ceramic teeth caps
- Condition and course of current dental work
- Tooth and jaw development
- Teeth roots and their health condition and issues
- The health of a jaw bone
- Impacted teeth (wisdom teeth trapped underneath gums or in the jaw)
- Health of joints
- Presence of abscesses (bacteria pocket of pus)
- The presence of abnormal growth such as cysts and tumors
Many of these conditions are hidden, and without a dental x-ray, dentists won’t be able to detect them until they become a serious problem. Heaving a dental x-ray will provide a notion of teeth and jawbone condition and issues in an early stage. Detecting an issue in an early stage of development provides the chance to react and treat the condition preventing the loss of tooth or bone, gangrene, or other severe problems.
Final Thoughts
Dental x-rays are a harmless way to get insight into a patient’s teeth and underneath the gums. But even far more than that, an x-ray provides a dentist a view of the processes that might take place in cognitive tissue, muscles, bones, and nerves in mouths.
It’s a beneficial device that helps in detecting a problem, prevent it, and determining the right treatment.
