X-Rays | Goldfields Family Dental

Dental X-Rays

Peeking at your dental health with X-rays is just as important and necessary as peeking under the hood of a car to make sure it’s running smoothly. In the case of a car, a mechanic uses special tools to make sure the inner parts of the engine are working like clockwork. Similarly, a dentist uses dental X-rays to let us see what’s happening beneath the apparent teeth and gum surfaces. These give us a hidden glance into oral health and allows us to find out problems early, and therefor the solutions as well.

Why Are Dental X-Rays Necessary?

We, at Goldfields Dental Family Clinic suggest dental X-rays as part of a regular checkup or thorough evaluation whether you first step into the dental clinic or it has been a while since your last checkup. This enables us to get a better picture of your oral health and develop a customized dental treatment plan as per your needs. Dental X-rays may be needed depending on the following-

If you’re a new patient at Goldfields Family Dental or a returning patient
Your dental history, age, dental issues
Any concerning issues regarding your oral health
The current condition of your teeth and overall oral health
Your apparent teeth and gum condition
If any dental treatment is being considered already

What Can X-Rays Reveal?

X-rays are a great way to find out oral problems that are not visible with bare eyes, this may include infections, damaged gums, bone degradations, decay, etc. There are different X-ray types, such as small X-rays or larger X-rays. Smaller X-rays are carried out by placing the X-ray film inside your mouth to focus on a smaller area of detail. On the other hand, larger X-rays are carried out to take a broader overview of the whole mouth and are often taken from different points outside the mouth.
Broad category-wise, there are two types of dental X-rays, intraoral and extraoral X-rays. Here’s the further categorization of the X-ray types-

Intraoral X-rays
Extraoral X-rays

As the name suggests, intraoral X-rays help us get a better idea of a certain section inside the mouth. The following X-rays are considered under this type.

Bitewing X-rays are taken inside the mouth focusing on the upper and lower teeth crowns
Periapical X-rays are taken when you need to assess the condition of one single tooth from the crown to the root of the tooth, including the surrounding bone
Maxillary and Mandibular Occlusal X-rays provide a better view of the upper and lower jaws, the maxillary and mandibular jaws respectively. These X-rays are taken to detect oral abnormalities like extra teeth, unusual tooth development, impacted jawbone tissue or teeth, etc.

An Orthopantomogram, or OPG, is a panoramic X-ray that provides a broad view of your mouth. Unlike traditional X-rays, which focus on a smaller area, an OPG captures an entire image of the mouth, including all teeth, jaws, and surrounding bone structures, all in a single image.
The lateral cephalogram shows facial structure, bone, and soft tissue. Your radiologist or dental practitioner can use these images to study the relation of your teeth to your jaw, assess problems in alignment or growth patterns, and prepare treatment. Generally used in orthodontic treatment.

So, what can these different types of dental X-rays reveal?

Cavities and tooth decay that may be concealed under your old tooth fillings or in the gaps between your teeth
Dental abscesses or infections that will eventually affect the teeth nerves and even lead to further complications without proper treatment such as
Gum disease, decay or loss of bones due to persisting gum diseases
Location and monitoring of abnormal growths or cysts in the mouth to prevent further issues
Assessing jawbones or tooth fractures after you have suffered a dental injury
Development of your teeth or impacted teeth such as wisdom teeth to diagnose the potential removal
Through the larger X-rays, it is even possible to locate inflammation in the sinuses as well that may affect your oral health.
The presence of any abnormal growth, extra tooth, or even the absence of a tooth

How Often Do I Need Dental X-Rays?

It is better to get bitewing x-rays once every 2 years. However, if you have any oral discomfort or you are dealing with some dental issues, then you should take X-rays more frequently and immediately to get a comprehensive idea about your oral health. We, at Goldfields Family Dental, are here at your service to tailor the schedule of your X-rays considering the exact X-ray types as per your individual needs, minimizing exposure and maximizing benefits.

Dental X-Rays

Why Are Dental X-Rays Necessary?

What Can X-Rays Reveal?

So, what can these different types of dental X-rays reveal?

How Often Do I Need Dental X-Rays?

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