Do We Need Dental X-rays Each Year?
Have you ever wondered why x-rays might be necessary during your regular dental visit Dr. Dan Drake? In short, our goal is to keep you informed about your oral health, and including the importance of x-rays and how they’re used in day to day dentistry. Below we will share everything you need to know about dental x-rays:
Why Do Dentists Encourage X-rays?
Dental X-Rays or radiographs have become a common routine in dental exams and are a standard in the care practice. They are incredibly helpful in identify problems, such as cavities, impacted teeth, tooth decay, and observing the overall oral health not visible to the naked eye.
Dental X-rays are normally taken yearly but there can be some factors that affect the frequency of X-rays. These include:
- History and symptoms of oral disease
- If your dentist is monitoring a specific issue
- Your current dental health
- Your current age
- A history of gum disease, tooth decay, and bone disease
Over the years, there have been many discussions and debates around the health and safety and risks regarding dental X-rays. As new forms of technology continue to develop and become more sophisticated, exposure to radiation is being lowered significantly. Today the risk to damaging levels of radiation is nearly nonexistent in the dental world. This is due to the implementation of newer technology and better dental education. To assist in reducing any risks, a dentist will still use a lead covering with a thyroid collar to protect the thyroid.
When it comes to the oral health of adults, dental X-rays are used to look for areas of decay that the dentist would not be able to see with the naked eye, such as areas between the teeth or underneath a filling.
X-rays allow dentists to exercise preventative action, alerting them to problems in the root of a tooth such as infection or death of the nerve and look for other problems like cysts, cancer or changes caused by diseases of the body. It also helps in the discovery of issues like bone loss from periodontal disease.
Dental X-rays can also assist in helping your dentist plan, prepare and place tooth implants, braces, dentures or other dental work.
For these reasons, it is incredibly important that patients receive dental X-rays as needed to assess for various oral health concerns, and at minimum have a series of X-rays completed annually.
Types of dental X-rays
There are a few different types of dental X-rays. Each record slightly different views of your mouth. The most common are intraoral X-rays such as:
- Bitewing X-rays: Provides an image of premolars, molars, and a section of a patients canine teeth. This X-Ray requires a patient to bite down on a special piece of paper or plastic that allows their dental profession to assess the overall health of their teeth, determine if they might have cavities, and measure the levels of the bone in their jaw.
- Periapical X-rays: This is used to focus on two teeth at the root to crown. It provides a full vantage point for the patients dentist.
- Digital X-rays: This is one of the newest forms of technology in dental X-ray capabilities. It gives patients very minimal exposure to radiation and allows a dental profession to create an image that can be printed or stored electronically. When Digital X-rays are taken at different times, it can allow dentists to view slight differences over time. This makes them more accurate and effective for identifying changes in oral health.
- Panoramic X-rays: These are X-rays taken by the machine in a panoramic view. The machine will be set to rotate around a patients head, taking a full image of their teeth, jaw, roots of teeth and how they align. This X-ray is often used by an oral surgeon or orthodontist intending to make plans for cosmetic or corrective dental services or for wisdom teeth prior to removal. This type of imaging can also detect any potential issues in the jaw or sinuses.
- Extraoral X-rays: are typically used when a dentist suspects an issue in the jaw.
- Occlusal X-rays: these help in capturing the patients teeth and mouth in one large image. Occlusal X-rays are taken with their mouth closed and are used to view how their upper and lower teeth align. Additionally, they can be used to detect any abnormalities in the palate.
The X-Ray procedure
Here’s what you can expect when you visit Dr. Dan Drake:
Typically and X-Ray is performed at the dental office by Dr. Drake, a hygienist, or dental assistant.
It is standard procedure for a dental professional, at our office, to cover you with a lead apron to protect your body from potentially harmful radiation. A small plastic apparatus is then inserted into your mouth and between your lower and upper teeth. You will then be asked to bite down on the piece and hold still.
Our technician will walk out of the room to start taking the X-ray image of the targeted areas. This process is typically performed for each side of the mouth and repeated if the images are not accurate the first time. In some cases X-rays might be slightly uncomfortable but will only take a few seconds.
If you find yourself getting anxious or nervous about your future appointment, contact your dentist so they can walk you through the this simple and very comfortable process. If you haven’t had X-rays in one to two years it may be a good idea to schedule an appointment so we can be sure to assess the state of your oral health.
Do I really need to get an X-Rays every year?
The answer is ultimately No. In the past, yearly x-rays were more than often recommended by dentists. However today, the ADA recommends that healthy adults only need to get x-rays about every 2-5 years. This is assuming they are in healthy condition.
If your mouth is healthy and free of things like tooth decay, gingivitis and gum disease, Dr. Drake and his staff will only need to take x-rays every few years. However, It may be necessary to x-ray your mouth more frequently if you have oral health issues.