Dental X-Rays Or Radiographs:

Why do I need dental x-rays? At Smile Hub Dental Clinic your dentist may require dental x-rays of your teeth and jaw from time to time. A dental x-ray helps your dentist to detect tooth decay, cavities, bone loss indicating gum disease, dental abscesses or fractured roots of teeth etc.

These small, low dose intraoral x-rays help your dentist to evaluate the health of your teeth, gums and jawbone. Dental radiographs or x-rays permit your dentist to perform an exam of your existing dental restorations such as fillings, inlays, onlays, crowns, bridges, dental implants etc.

Dental x-rays allow your dentist in Smile Hub to detect

decay between teeth
decay beneath existing fillings
bone loss in the jaw
changes in the bone or root canal due to infection
condition and position of teeth to help prepare for dental crowns, bridges, dental implants, braces, dentures
abscesses (an infection at the root of a tooth or between the gum and the tooth)
Cysts

Dental X-Rays:

Before your dental treatment, your dentist may require a large, full mouth dental x-ray called a panoramic x-ray or OPG. Please inform your dentist if you’re pregnant before any x-rays are taken. Panoramic or OPG x-rays are needed to aid your dentist in examining wisdom teeth, sinus problems, possible lesions of the jawbone such as cysts or tumours, jawbone fractures and generalised bone loss in patients with periodontal or gum disease.

Intraoral Radiograph/X-Rays:

Intraoral x-rays are the most common type of dental x-ray as they give a high level of detail. These x-rays allow dentists to examine teeth for cavities and tooth decay. Intraoral x-rays allow dentists to examine the roots of teeth and check the surrounding bone around the roots of teeth. This can help dentists detect gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) or gum disease(periodontitis) involving bone loss around the roots of teeth. It is important for your dentist to detect bone loss around the roots of teeth as this can result in loose teeth. Intraoral radiographs allow dentists to examine the progress of developing teeth.

Depending on your dental treatment plan, your dentist may choose from a variety of intraoral x-rays such as:

Bite-wing x-rays: A bite-wing x-ray highlights the crowns of the back teeth. They’re taken on either one or two sides of the mouth. These x-rays show the upper and lower premolars and molars. Patients are asked to bite down on a wing shaped x-ray holder during the x-ray.

Periapical X-ray: A periapical x-ray looks similar to a bite-wing x-ray. A periapical x-ray shows the entire length of the root of a tooth from the crown to the root tip.

Occlusal X-ray: An occlusal x-ray is larger than a usual x-ray. This kind of x-ray highlights tooth development and placement of teeth in children and shows the full arch in either the upper or lower jaw.

3D Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scans are useful in dental implant treatment and complex root canal treatment provision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need dental x-rays if I have no pain?

Dental x-rays help your dentist to assess potential problems such as small cavities. This allows a recommendation for treatment to be made before you experience dental pain.

How often should I get dental x-rays?

The frequency of x-rays varies from patient to patient. Generally, a low risk patient may be recommended to have x-rays taken once every two years. However, a higher risk patient for dental disease may be recommended to have x-rays every year. The benefits versus the potential risks of x-rays are always weighed.

Why are there different types of x-rays?

Each different type of x-rays have different benefits. You may need different types of x-rays to create a complete assessment of your mouth. Bitewing x-rays are the most common and are excellent for detecting cavities. Periapical x-rays show the entire tooth including the root to assess for dental abscesses or bone loss from gum disease. Panoramic x-rays display the entire mouth including both jaws enabling wisdom teeth assessment and generalised bone loss assessment for patients with gum disease.

Should I be worried about dental radiation?

The amount of radiation involved in dental x-rays is minimal. At Smile Hub Dental Clinic x-rays are only recommended when necessary to avoid undue risk.