Dental X-rays help Sunrise Chatswood dentists visualize diseases of the teeth and surrounding tissue that cannot be seen with a simple oral exam. For example, X-rays can help pick up signs of decay underneath. X-rays also help to detect problems with the roots of the teeth, changes in the bone, unerupted teeth such as wisdom teeth, infections, and if there are issues with the jaw and facial bones. X-rays also assist with planning for dental care, including fillings, implants, tooth extraction, and orthodontics. Which can help save you money, unnecessary discomfort, and maybe even your life.
Why are Sunrise Chatswood Dental X-Rays Performed?
Sunrise Dental Chatswood X-rays are usually done once a year. If your Chatswood dentist is tracking the progress of a dental problem or treatment, x-rays may be done more frequently.
Factors that may affect how often you receive dental x-rays include
- Your age
- Your current oral health status
- Symptoms of any oral disease
- History of gum disease (gingivitis) or tooth decay
If you are a new patient, you may need to receive dental x-rays so that your new dentist can get a clear picture of your dental health. This is especially important if your previous dentist did not take any x-rays.
Children may need to have dental x-rays more often than adults because their Chatswood dentist may need to monitor the growth of their adult teeth. This is important because it can help your dentist determine if you need to remove milk teeth to prevent complications such as adult teeth growing behind milk teeth.
What Problems Can Dental X-Rays Detect?
In adults, x-rays can be used to
- Show areas of decay that may not be visible on oral examination, especially small areas of decay between teeth.
- Identify decay under existing fillings.
- Show the bone loss that accompanies gum disease.
- Show changes in the alveolar bone or root canals due to infection.
- Assist in the preparation of implants, braces, dentures, or other dental procedures.
- To show abscesses (infections in the roots or between the gums and teeth),
In children, x-rays are used to
- Visualize tooth decay.
- Determine if there is enough room in the mouth for all the teeth that are coming in.
- Determine if milk teeth are falling out fast enough to allow permanent teeth to come in properly.
- Examine the development of wisdom teeth and determine if the teeth are impacted (unable to grow out of the gums).
- Reveal other developmental abnormalities, such as cysts and certain types of tumors.
Are Dental X-Rays Safe?
Absolutely safe. Modern digital x-rays use a very small amount of radiation to produce images of the teeth and bones of the mouth and are safe for both adults and children.
Radiation is measured in “micro sieverts.” When walking around each day, we are exposed to 10 microsieverts of natural background radiation, while eating a banana is equivalent to 0.1 microsieverts. To put this in perspective, a typical dental X-ray is equivalent to the natural radiation exposure of eating two bananas.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, inform your dentist before having any dental exams, including X-rays. According to health experts, for women who haven’t had a recent dental exam, there’s no need to put off getting an X-ray if there’s a benefit to having one.
When your dentist looks at an x-ray, they are looking for subtle changes in the brightness or darkness of an area on the x-ray from surrounding areas. This can tell them if there are changes in the mineral structure of the teeth and bones.
What Type of Dental X-Ray Would I Need?
There are two main types of X-rays in Sunrise Dental Chatswood: intraoral(when the x-ray is inside the mouth) and extraoral (when the x-ray is outside the mouth).
- Intraoral x-rays are the most common type of dental x-ray. These x-rays provide a great deal of detail and allow dentists to detect cavities, check the health of the roots and bone around the teeth, examine the status of developing teeth, and monitor the general health of the teeth and jaw.
- Extraoral x-rays can show teeth, but their primary focus is the jawbone and skull. These x-rays do not provide the detail that intraoral x-rays do, and therefore cannot be used to detect caries or find problems with individual teeth. Instead, extraoral x-rays can be used to check for blocked teeth, to monitor the growth and development of the jawbone in relation to the teeth, and to identify potential problems with the teeth and jawbone in relation to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or other bones of the face.
Types of Intraoral X-Rays
- Bitewing X-ray: This technique shows details of the upper and lower teeth in a particular area of the mouth. Each bitewing x-ray shows the level of a tooth from the crown to the supporting bone. Bitewing x-rays are used to detect decay between teeth and changes in bone density caused by gum disease. Occlusal radiographs are also helpful in determining the fit of a crown (or cast restoration) and the marginal integrity of a filling.
- Occlusion: This technique captures all of your teeth at once. Each X-ray reveals the entire arch of teeth in either the upper or lower jaw.
- Periapical: This technique Periapical X-rays show the entire tooth, from the crown to beyond the end of the root to where the tooth is anchored in the jawbone. Each periapical x-ray shows the dimensions of the entire tooth, including all of the teeth in one part of the upper or lower jaw. Periapical X-rays are used to detect any abnormalities in the root structure and surrounding bone structure of the tooth.
After Dental X-ray
When the images are ready (or immediately if they are digital x-rays), the Sunrise Chatswood dentist will review the images and check for abnormalities.
If the dental hygienist is cleaning your teeth, the Sunrise Chatswood dentist may review the results of the x-rays with you after your cleaning. The exception to this is if the hygienist finds any major problems on the x-rays.
If the Sunrise Chatswood dentist finds a problem, such as decay or cavities, they will discuss treatment options with you. If the dentist does not find a problem, please continue to keep up the good work!
How Often Should I Have My Teeth X-Rayed?
This usually depends on your medical and dental history and current condition. Some people may need x-rays every six months; others who have had no recent tooth or gum disease and see their dentist regularly may only have x-rays taken every few years. If you are a new patient, your Sunrise Chatswood dentist may take x-rays as part of your initial exam and create a baseline record to compare changes that may have occurred over time.
People who fall into the high-risk category and may need X-rays taken more frequently include:
- Because their teeth and jaws are still developing and they have smaller teeth, they usually require more x-rays than adults. As a result, decay can reach the inside of the tooth, called dentin, and spread more quickly.
- Adults who have had a lot of restorative work done, such as fillings, should check for decay underneath existing fillings or in new locations.
- People who drink a lot of sugary drinks. A sugary environment creates the perfect conditions for cavities to form.
- People with periodontal (gum) disease. X-rays can monitor bone loss.
- People with dry mouth are caused by medications (e.g., antidepressants, anxiolytics, antihistamines, etc.) or diseases (e.g., Sjögren’s syndrome, damage to salivary glands, radiation therapy to the head and neck, etc.). Dry mouth can lead to dental caries.
- X-rays monitor bone loss due to periodontal disease (smokers are at higher risk for periodontal disease).
Looking for The Best Dental Treatment in Chatswood Sydney
Like brushing and flossing, getting regular dental X-rays is an integral part of your overall oral health. Having a good checkup can be a relief, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep getting X-rays.
Depending on your age, health, and insurance coverage, X-rays may be performed every 1 to 2 years. If you experience any pain or other changes in your mouth, Book an appointment now and talk to the professional dentists in Sunrise Dental Chatswood , we will provide the best dental treatment match you need!