Dentists often recommend patients get an x-ray of their teeth for effective diagnosis. However, this depends upon their dental and medical history and current dental condition. For example, some people need a dental X-ray after every six months. In contrast, people with no past dental disease may require X-rays after a couple of years.
Dentists suggest having X-rays so that they can diagnose the disease and start the right course of treatment at the very beginning. This is considered the initial step of the treatment process and is highly recommended to adults (with or without teeth), children, and adolescents (before wisdom teeth).
Are you still wondering why dentists recommend X-rays? Keep reading to get a clear understanding of this imaging method.
1.Less exposure to radiation: Compared to the typical old-school X-ray method, technologically advanced X-rays use less radiation. This prevents patients from getting exposed to high radiation.
Additionally, the latest X-ray technique does not keep users waiting for the report generation. The moment patients are ready for the dental scanning process, the images immediately appear on the screen. This helps dentists get a real-time report of their dental condition.
2. Easily accessible images: Dentists can access these X-ray images with ease, unlike the traditional X-ray method. Besides, they can be enlarged and enhanced as many times as required. This is possible because dental X-rays can be easily viewed on a computer screen.
Therefore, whenever a dentist requires a dental report for the examination, he or she can magnify the X-ray images on the screen and determine where the problem lies. This further helps dentists find the problem and how to treat it effectively.
3.Computerized images: Browsing over Google with a keyword like “dental X-ray near me,” you will come across many advanced medical imaging centers. These path labs use advanced technology and software to generate computerized images.
The best thing about these scanned images is they can be electronically sent to others if required. For example, suppose a dentist wants to consult with a specialist. In that case, he or she can simply send the X-ray file electronically to his/her senior and take a second opinion. This is another vital reason why dentists prefer X-rays.
4.Better diagnosis: Finally, the reason that needs special attention is X-rays can help doctors make a better diagnosis. The advanced X-ray process uses software that allows dentists to compare current images with previous ones digitally. This technique is known as subtraction radiography.
In this technique, all those areas that are the same between both images are subtracted out. This helps the dentist figure out the actual changes, even if it is very small and can’t be noticed by naked eyes.
Types of dental scanning methods
If you search over the web with the keyword “dental X-ray near me,” you will come across two primary types of dental scanning methods.
Intraoral X-rays – In this method, X-rays are taken for the internal sections of the mouth. This helps doctors find cavities, check out the dental condition, and monitor the bone surrounding the teeth, jawbone, etc. Now, these intraoral X-rays are further classified into multiple categories. They are –
- Bite Wing X-rays
- Periapical X-rays
- Occlusal X-rays
Extraoral X-rays – This kind of dental imaging method focuses more on the jaw and skull and has the least attention on the details captured by intraoral X-rays. Dentists recommend this X-ray method to find impacted teeth, monitor the growth of jaws, identify the problem between jaws and teeth, and determine temporomandibular joint problems if any. They are further classified into multiple categories. These include –
- Panoramic X-rays
- Tomograms
- Cephalometric projections
- Sialography
- Computed tomography
Final Thoughts
Whenever dentists come across patients suffering from gum disease or teeth infection, they suggest getting an X-ray report. Experts say dental X-rays are one of the effective medical imaging methods that can capture a clear picture of cavities, jawbone, and other critical areas of the mouth. Hence, these reports help dentists figure out whether patients require immediate tooth implants or can be cured by medicine.
Therefore, there is nothing wrong with getting an X-ray report of your mouth. However, it is important to consult your doctor about the type of X-ray required for your dental condition.
