Dental X-rays are a common preventive and diagnostic tool for dentists. While your dentist can learn a lot by looking at your teeth and gums, many oral health issues start between the teeth or below the gumline. Decay can hide between teeth, an infection can occur around a tooth’s root, or bone loss can develop unnoticed below the gums.
With dental X-rays, dentists can see those hard-to-view areas to check for changes or problems. If you need dental X-rays in Milton, digital imaging can help with earlier detection, more accurate treatment plans, and a better understanding of your oral health.
This article covers the purpose of dental X-rays, what they can show, common types of dental images your dentist may take, and what you can expect during your next appointment.
What Are Dental X-Rays?
Dental X-rays, also known as dental radiographs, are images of your teeth, roots, jawbone, and supporting oral structures. X-rays are created with a small amount of radiation that is controlled to be safe for your use. Teeth and bone absorb more X-ray energy than softer tissues, so they look different on the final image.
Dentists use these images to evaluate areas of your mouth they cannot see during a physical exam. Depending on which type of X-ray your dentist takes, the image may show a detailed view of a few teeth or give your dentist a larger view of your entire mouth and jaws.
Dental X-rays are not used in place of a physical exam. Instead, they provide your dentist with more information to use along with a clinical examination. Your dentist will look at your teeth and gums, consider any symptoms you may have, and discuss your dental history before making a diagnosis or suggesting treatment.
When do Dentists Take X-Rays?
Many dental problems are easier to treat when they are caught early. For example, a cavity that develops between two teeth might not be visible or painful to you, but often show up on your bitewing X-ray. When caught early, the decay can be removed and restored with a filling that conserves more of your natural tooth. If left undetected, the decay will progress further into the tooth before you notice any symptoms such as sensitivity or pain.
X-rays can also detect changes in the bone that support teeth. This can be important when assessing for gum disease since this condition can progress under the gumline before you realize anything is wrong.
If you need to see a dentist in Milton due to toothache, swelling, sensitivity or injury, dental imaging can help us assess if decay has reached the inner layers of the tooth, if the tooth is infected, if the root is damaged, or if the surrounding bone is affected. Using X-rays allows us to determine what treatment you need rather than simply guessing based on symptoms.
What conditions can dental X-Rays detect?
X-rays can detect hidden tooth decay, infections at the root of a tooth, bone changes related to gum disease, impacted teeth, abnormalities in the development of teeth, and damage caused by trauma.
X-rays are useful for assessing wisdom teeth as well. A panoramic X-ray can reveal if a wisdom tooth is angled towards the adjacent teeth, trapped under the gum or coming in beside another tooth.
Prior to root canal treatment, dental implants, certain extractions and orthodontic treatment, X-rays allow us to see the roots, bone and nearby structures so that we can plan the treatment more effectively and be aware of potential issues that could impact your procedure.
Of course, X-rays do not pick up every possible issue in the mouth. They provide us with information about the teeth and supporting structures that we cannot see during a dental examination, but should be considered along with your examination and medical history.
The Three Types of Dental X-Rays Explained
Not every x-ray image shows the same area of your mouth. Dentists will choose the type of image that meets their needs without taking more x-rays than are needed for clinical reasons.
Bitewing X-rays
Bitewing x-rays often capture the crowns of the upper teeth and lower teeth that are next to each other in the same region of your mouth. Dentists frequently use bitewings to search for cavities between teeth, which can be challenging to spot with just the naked eye.
These images also allow your dentist to check fillings and crowns for proper fit and look at the height of bone in between your teeth. Bitewings are typically associated with your regular dental exams. However, just because you’re at the dentist doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll need bitewing x-rays taken.
Periapical X-rays
A periapical x-ray will show your dentist the entire tooth from crown to root and the bone that surrounds it. This gives them a close look at a particular area of your mouth. Patients frequently get periapical x-rays if they’re having discomfort in one specific region of their mouth or if they suspect an infection. Dental injuries and issues with the tooth root also call for this more detailed look.
Root canals also frequently make use of these images because they allow the dentist to see below the gum line.
Panoramic X-rays
A panoramic x-ray creates a single image of your teeth, upper jaw bone and lower jaw bone, and other structures in your mouth. Instead of placing a small sensor next to your teeth, the machine rotates around your head.
Panoramas are frequently utilized to check your wisdom teeth, teeth that have not yet erupted, jaw development, and the position of your teeth as a whole. Orthodontic exams and early dental implant treatment planning can also benefit from this type of imaging.
Panoramic x-rays are great to get an overall view because they cover such a large area. However, they don’t always show small cavities as well as an x-ray that’s taken inside of your mouth.
Three-Dimensional Dental Imaging
Your dentist may suggest having cone beam computed tomography also known as CBCT. Cone beam CT creates three-dimensional images of your teeth, jaws and surrounding structures.
CBCT is not typically used in place of routine dental X-rays. It’s usually only used when having 3D information would make a difference in your diagnosis or treatment plan. For example, some implant cases, surgical cases, endodontic cases or cases involving impacted teeth may require CBCT imaging.
Are Dental X-Rays Safe?
Because dental X-rays use ionizing radiation, they should only be taken when the benefit of the diagnosis outweighs the risks of radiation exposure. Health Canada has stated that the dose from a single dental X-ray is low. Examinations should be based on the individual patient’s clinical needs and should not be done automatically.
Canadian dental guidelines are based on the principle of keeping radiation exposure as low as possible. This can be done by using the right imaging technique and only exposing the area that needs to be examined, making sure the machine is well maintained, and not repeating images unnecessarily.
To give you an idea of how low the doses are, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission provides the dose of a typical intraoral dental X-ray as around 0.005 millisieverts. For comparison, they list a cross-Canada flight at about 0.02 millisieverts. Actual exposure depends on the type of image, the machine and technique used.
If you’re pregnant (or think you may be pregnant), be sure to inform your dentist. You should never put off needed dental care because you’re pregnant. However, your dentist can use this information along with the urgency of your situation to decide on the type of imaging (if needed) and any precautions that should be taken.
How Often Should You Get Dental X-Rays?
The answer really depends on you – there is no set schedule that’s ideal for all patients. Guidelines now recommend dental X-rays based on your need rather than on a routine basis just because “x amount of time” has gone by since your last ones.
Patients with frequent cavities, active gum disease, multiple large fillings or crowns, or new problems developing may benefit from imaging more frequently than a patient with no current symptoms who is at low risk of developing dental disease.
Your age also doesn’t dictate how often you should receive X-rays of your teeth. Instead, your dentist will consider if you’re a new patient to the office, if previous X-rays are available for comparison, how quickly your oral health is changing, and if an X-ray would change the diagnosis or management of your care.
If you’ve recently switched dentists, you may be able to have compatible X-rays sent over to your new Milton dentist office. This can save you the time and cost of repeating unnecessary images. However, your dentist may still recommend new X-rays if the previous ones are too outdated, don’t cover all the needed areas, or don’t include the area of concern.
Dental X-Rays for Kids
Kids also benefit from dental X-rays at certain times. Teeth and jaws are growing throughout childhood. Dental X-rays can reveal whether adult teeth are growing into proper position, if there is room for them to come in, or if cavities are developing between top teeth.
Just because your child is young doesn’t mean they need X-rays at every appointment. Factors like growth and development, cavity risk, symptoms they may be experiencing, previous dental work, and clinical findings play a part in making that decision.
Finding problems early is especially helpful for kids because tooth decay can progress rapidly. Catching an issue before it starts causing pain may allow for easier treatment and can help protect their adult teeth growing underneath.
What to Expect During Your Dental X-Ray Appointment
Dental X-rays don’t take long. Typically, your dentist’s office will let you know how many X-rays will be taken and where they’ll be located. For front or side teeth X-rays, the patient will sit in the chair while the dentist places a small sensor beside the teeth being investigated. Patients are instructed to hold still, and you may bite down on a small device to help keep the sensor in place.
Some patients experience discomfort when the sensor is placed. Those with small mouths, a strong gag reflex, or soreness in the mouth should inform their dentist. They will try to adjust the sensor angle and your positioning to help you feel more comfortable.
Panoramic X-rays are taken with the patient sitting or standing while the machine rotates. Patients don’t have to bite on the X-ray sensor, although there is sometimes a small piece to help position your lower jaw.
Images are processed digitally and show up quickly on the dentist’s computer screen. The dentist can zoom in on areas as needed and compare the X-rays to previous ones. He or she will point out any findings that are relevant to your dental health.
When Might You Need X-Rays If You’re Not in Pain?
Sometimes teeth and gums can harbor disease even if you’re not experiencing any discomfort. Cavities can exist in their early stages without causing sensitivity to heat or cold. You can lose bone from gum disease without realizing it if the process is gradual. An infection can occur around a root canal-treated tooth without causing obvious symptoms right away.
That’s when dental X-rays might be advised, even if you’re feeling just fine. The goal isn’t to find things to treat. It’s to diagnose issues that can’t be seen during a visual exam and address them while they’re easy to treat.
If you have questions about X-rays, your dentist should be able to explain why he or she is recommending the particular type of imaging and how it might impact your treatment options.
Digital Dental X-Rays Milton Patients Can Trust
If you are searching for digital dental X-rays in Milton, expect your provider to use imaging as part of a comprehensive dental exam, not as an isolated process. X-ray images are most beneficial when they can be reviewed in conjunction with the teeth and gums, current symptoms, existing dental work, and past radiographs (if applicable).
Patients new and old visit Milton Dental Hub for X-rays during new-patient exams, routine checkups and cleanings, dental emergencies, and treatment planning. According to the practice’s new-patient information page, X-rays may be taken to evaluate your jaw, tooth alignment, and general oral health.
Ideally, your dentist will gather the information he or she needs to make an accurate diagnosis while taking only the X-rays that are deemed necessary.
Book Your Next Dental Exam in MiltonL
X-rays allow dentists to see issues that may be lurking below the surface of the gums. They can help detect cavities, infections, bone loss, impacted teeth, and other changes to your teeth and gums before they become noticeable (or cause problems).
Visit Milton Dental Hub to schedule your next dental exam. New X-rays can be taken if necessary and reviewed along with your teeth and gums to determine if you need any treatment. If you’re not sure whether X-rays are needed, bring it up at your next appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need dental X-rays at every checkup?
No. X-rays should be recommended according to your oral health, symptoms, disease risk, dental history, and the diagnostic information your dentist needs.
Can dental X-rays find cavities before they hurt?
Yes. X-rays can reveal decay between teeth and beneath certain restorations before the cavity becomes large enough to cause pain or be seen during a visual examination.
Are digital dental X-rays painful?
The X-ray itself is painless. An intraoral sensor may cause brief pressure or discomfort, but the image usually takes only a few seconds to capture.
Can I refuse a dental X-ray?
You can discuss any recommendation with your dentist and decide whether to proceed. Your dentist should explain why the image is recommended, what it may reveal, and whether declining it could limit the ability to diagnose or safely provide treatment.
Can dental X-rays detect oral cancer?
Dental X-rays may reveal certain abnormalities in the jaws or bone, but they do not replace an oral cancer screening. Dentists primarily screen for oral cancer by examining the lips, tongue, cheeks, gums, throat, and other soft tissues.
Can my previous dentist send my X-rays to a new dental office?
In many cases, existing dental images can be transferred with your authorization. Your new dentist will decide whether they are recent and detailed enough for your current care.
Why might I need more than one type of X-ray?
Each type provides a different view. A bitewing may be best for detecting decay between teeth, while a periapical image may be needed to examine a painful root. A panoramic image provides a broader view of the jaws and tooth positions.
Are dental X-rays useful during an emergency visit?
Yes. When a patient has pain, swelling, trauma, or a suspected infection, an X-ray can help identify the source of the problem and guide the appropriate treatment.
