Dental X-rays

Dental X-rays help dentists visualize diseases of the teeth and surrounding tissue that cannot be seen with a simple oral exam.This can helps us to identify problems, like cavities, tooth decay, and impacted teeth.

What Problems Can Dental X-Rays Detect?

According to WebMD

In adults, dental X-rays can be used to:

• Show areas of decay that may not be visible with an oral exam, especially small areas of decay between teeth
• Identify decay occurring beneath an existing filling
• Reveal bone loss that accompanies gum disease
• Reveal changes in the bone or in the root canal resulting from infection
• Assist in the preparation of tooth implants, braces, dentures, or other dental procedures
• Reveal an abscess (an infection at the root of a tooth or between the gum and a tooth)

In children, dental X-rays are used to:

• Watch for decay
• Determine if there is enough space in the mouth to fit all incoming teeth
• Determine if primary teeth are being lost quickly enough to allow permanent teeth to come in properly
• Check for the development of wisdom teeth and identify if the teeth are impacted (unable to emerge through the gums)
• Reveal other developmental abnormalities, such as cysts and some types of tumors