All You Need To Know About Dental X-ray
By :
Northampton Dental | June 08, 2021
What Is A Dental X-ray?
The dental x-ray is one of the most significant instruments used by dentists all over the world. This type of X-rays enables dentists to diagnose diseases that may not be seen during a visual examination. But what are dental x-rays? Dental X-rays can be defined as an essential diagnostic tool that can help dentists determine the health of oral hard tissues.
They are also used to prevent dental problems, maintain healthy gum tissue, and diagnose any oral health problems, including tooth decay. Underlying conditions, such as root diseases, jaw problems, and impacted teeth, can be found by using this diagnostic tool. Today, X-ray equipment and techniques have been improved with great precision, making them safer than ever.
Who Are The Ideal Candidates For Dental X-rays?
The frequency with which X-rays are required is determined by your medical and dental history, as well as your present state. Some people may require X-rays every six months. Others who do not have a recent tooth or gum disease and have regular dental appointments may only require X-rays every couple of years. In the cases of patients, who are at high risk for dental disorders, dental x-rays may need to be done more frequently. Here are some people who may need frequent dental x-rays:
- To detect cavities in adult individuals who have undergone a lot of dental restorative treatments.
- Identify tooth decay in people who drink a lot of sugary drinks.
- To determine the stage of bone loss in patients with the periodontal (gingival) disease.
- People suffering from dry mouth due to medications like antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, antihistamines, etc., or health conditions like Sjogren’s syndrome, damaged salivary glands, head, and neck radiation therapy. To control bone loss caused by gum disease in smokers as they have an increased risk of gum disease.
- As their teeth and jaws are still developing, children require more X-rays than adults, and their teeth are more likely to be damaged by dental decay than adults.
Different Types of Dental X-rays and The Things They Can Detect
There are two types of dental X-rays. They are Small X-rays and Full Mouth X-rays
The small X-rays detect:
- Oral infections
- Tartar buildup is causing bleeding gums.
- Small cavities between teeth that are not apparent in the mouth
- Existing fillings, root canals, crowns, or bridges that are causing problems
Things detected by full mouth X-rays are as follows:
- The existence of wisdom teeth and their location.
- The closeness of teeth to the nerves and sinuses
- The presence and the location of abscesses and other infections.
- Tooth development problems include deformed teeth, additional or missing teeth, and so on.
- The severity and presence of periodontal diseases.
- Any kinds of malignancies like cancerous tissues, tumors, and cysts.
- Traumatic injuries like teeth and bone fractures.
We hope our blog has helped you learn a lot about dental X-rays. If you need the best dental care services in Tomball, TX, then please visit Northampton Dental. Our team of dentists provides the best preventive dental care for your family.