What is the purpose of dental x-rays?
During your regular dental visit, your dentist may use x-rays to look at your teeth and jaw. If you’re wondering why that may be necessary, think of an x-ray machine as a dentist’s magnifying glass. The images created by an x-ray machine allows your dentist to see beyond the obvious.
For new patients, dentists often recommend X-rays to establish a baseline of your oral health. That way, your dentist can identify problems that may develop in the future. For returning patients, X-rays are used to identify signs of tooth decay, gum health, and all other aspects of your oral health.
What is an x-ray?
Dental x-rays are images of your teeth created in a radiographic imaging room, like the one that we have at Regent Avenue Dental Centre in Winnipeg. Intraoral X-rays are the most common type of dental X-rays taken. These X-rays provide a lot of detail and it allows your dentist to find cavities, check the health of the tooth root and bone surrounding the tooth. It also allows them to check the status of developing teeth, and monitor the general health of your teeth and jawbone.
What can an x-ray show?
X-rays are beneficial for identifying problems that are invisible on the surface. These internal structures are also where, coincidentally, cysts, tumors, and bone infections are typically found. Additionally, x-rays can also reveal more decay hiding under old fillings and between teeth—and we’re not just talking about slightly more decay, up to fifty percent more is detected by evaluating a patient’s x-ray images.
Other conditions that dental x-rays may reveal include extra teeth, impacted teeth, or congenitally missing teeth, as well as abnormal roots that could make root canals or extractions more complex.
Ask us about dental x-rays at your next dentist appointment!
Taking care of your teeth is essential for long-term health. By visiting a dentist regularly, you can rest assured that your teeth have been examined thoroughly. At Regent Avenue Dental Centre, we have over two decades of experience taking care of Winnipeg residents’ oral health. If you are looking to have a regular check-up or have other dental concerns, please contact us or call 204.817.8915 to see if we can set up an appointment for you.
