Dental X-rays are a routine part of dental care, helping dentists identify various oral health issues in your teeth and jaws. Nowadays, digital imaging techniques are commonly used to capture detailed pictures of your teeth, potentially leading to additional dental treatments.

There are two main types of digital X-ray imaging: intraoral (inside the mouth) and extraoral (outside the mouth). These X-rays can detect common issues such as:

• Tooth Decay: Digital sensors create highly detailed X-ray films, making it easier to identify signs of tooth decay that may not be visible to the naked eye.
• Gum Disease: Digital X-rays can assess damage from existing gum disease by looking at the bones beneath the soft tissue. This helps track the progression of gum disease and evaluate the amount of bone loss.
• Bone Changes: Dental X-rays are valuable for assessing changes in teeth and jawbones due to procedures like root canals and implants. They provide a clear view without the need to remove implants, allowing dentists to determine the health of each tooth.

Dental X-rays are a safe and standard method, involving minimal radiation exposure at healthy levels. If you’re in the Brighton and Hove area and need dental X-ray services, consider visiting our clinic for a wide range of dental treatments. Contact us today.

Types of Dental X-Rays

There are two main types of dental X-rays: intraoral (inside the mouth) and extraoral (outside the mouth).

Intraoral X-Rays

Intraoral X-rays are the most frequently taken dental X-rays. These X-rays offer detailed views, helping dentists find cavities, assess tooth roots and surrounding bone health, monitor developing teeth, and check the overall well-being of your teeth and jawbone.

Types of Intraoral X-Rays:

Intraoral X-rays come in different types, each revealing specific aspects of your teeth.

• Bite-Wing X-Rays: It shows details of the upper and lower teeth in one mouth area. Used to detect decay between teeth and changes in bone density due to gum disease. Bite-wing X-rays help assess crown fit, cast restoration, and the integrity of fillings.
• Periapical X-Rays: Coverage: Displays the entire tooth, from the crown to the end of the root, and its anchoring in the jaw. It detects abnormalities in the root structure and surrounding bone. It shows all teeth in one part of either the upper or lower jaw.
• Occlusal X-rays: Larger images showing full tooth development and placement. Reveals the entire arch of teeth in either the upper or lower jaw.

Extraoral X-Rays

While extraoral X-rays do show teeth, their primary focus is on the jaw and skull. These X-rays don’t provide the same level of detail as intraoral ones, making them unsuitable for detecting cavities or pinpointing issues with individual teeth. Extraoral X-rays are valuable for identifying impacted teeth, monitoring jaw and teeth growth, and spotting potential problems involving the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or other facial bones.

Types of Extraoral X-Rays:

Your dentist may use various types of extraoral X-rays to get a broader view of your oral health.

• Panoramic X-Rays: Captures the entire mouth area, showing all teeth in both upper and lower jaws in a single X-ray. Useful for detecting tooth positions, emerging teeth, identifying impacted teeth, and aiding in tumor diagnosis.
• Tomograms: Highlights a specific layer or “slice” of the mouth while blurring out others. Ideal for examining structures that are hard to see due to proximity to other structures.
• Cephalometric Projections: Shows the entire side of the head. Useful for examining teeth in relation to the jaw and an individual’s profile, commonly used by orthodontists for treatment planning.
• Sialography: Involves visualizing salivary glands after injecting a radiopaque contrast dye. Helps dentists identify salivary gland issues, like blockages or conditions such as Sjögren’s syndrome.
• Computed Tomography (CT Scanning): Provides a three-dimensional image of the body’s interior structures. Identifies bone problems in the face, such as tumors or fractures, evaluates bone for dental implant placement, and aids in planning complex extractions to prevent complications.

Understanding these two types of dental X-rays helps dentists tailor their approach to specific dental concerns and ensures a comprehensive assessment of oral health.

How Dental X-Rays Work: A Simple Explanation

Getting a dental X-ray is a routine and straightforward process. Here’s what typically happens:

Preliminary Check-up:

• Your dentist begins with a standard check-up using regular tools to assess your overall oral health.
• X-rays may be taken as a precaution to identify any hidden issues that may not be visible during the initial check.

X-ray Positioning:

• The dentist positions the dental X-ray machine either inside or outside your mouth, depending on the type of X-ray needed.
• Before taking the X-ray, the dentist and anyone else present step away to avoid consistent exposure to radiation, which can be a hazard.

Taking the Image:

• Using a remote switch, the dentist quickly takes the X-ray.
• You may hear a few clicks and some whirring or buzzing sounds as the machine operates, but the process is fast, and you won’t feel any pain.

Overall, if you’ve ever had an X-ray or a CT scan, the experience is similar. It’s a quick and important procedure. If you’re nervous about dental procedures, consider choosing a dentist experienced in caring for patients with dental phobias.

How Safe Are Dental X-Rays? Explained Simply

Dental X-rays, like other sources of radiation, have the potential to harm the body’s tissues and cells, possibly leading to cancer. However, the amount of radiation you get from dental X-rays, especially with digital technology, is very small.

Dentistry has made progress in minimizing X-ray risks, but it’s essential to consider the cumulative effects of radiation over a lifetime. Every bit of radiation matters, even if the doses from dental X-rays are generally low.

To address concerns, discuss with your dentist the frequency and reasons for taking X-rays. Guidelines emphasize that X-rays should only be done when necessary for a clinical diagnosis. While some individuals may need more frequent X-rays, it’s important to balance the benefits of diagnostic information with the potential risks of radiation exposure.

Final Note

Dentists have various tests to check the health of your teeth and gums, and dental X-rays are an important part of this care. They can reveal hidden issues like tooth decay deep within the roots, and the process is completely safe.

Digital X-ray scanners are painless and helpful for everyone, especially for children, smokers, those with high sugar diets, and adults who have had extensive dental work like fillings or veneers. If you’re in the Brighton and Hove area, you can use our dental X-ray services at our clinic, where we specialize in treating nervous patients. Feel free to contact us today.