Dental Xray

Dental Xray

Dental X-Rays

X-rays, are a valuable diagnostic tool. They can help to

• Check how your teeth are erupting (coming into the mouth)
• See the number, size and position of teeth that are still inside gums.
• Find out whether there are missing teeth or extra teeth.
• Monitor jaw and teeth injuries.
• See teeth or jaw infection.
• Prepare for orthodontic treatment.
• Identify bone diseases

There is no standard timetable for when your mouth should be X-rayed. The need varies with dental health. If you had a high risk of tooth decay, your dentist might suggest X-rays every six months. This may continue until the problem is under control.

Depending on the goal five types of X-rays are available in dentistry:

• Bitewing X-rays — used to view the areas between teeth that cannot be seen directly. These X-rays are taken for the back teeth.
• Periapical X-rays — These are the most common used to view the entire crowns, roots of one, two or three adjacent teeth and their supporting bone.
• Panoramic X-rays — used to view all of the teeth on one film for orthodontic treatment or in case of facial injury. They also show the upper and lower jaws, the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) and the sinuses above the upper teeth.
• Occlusal X-rays — These are used to view most of the upper or lower teeth on one film. This is useful when the dentist does not have a panoramic X-ray machine.
• Orthodontic X-rays (also called cephalometric or lateral skull) — This type of X-ray shows the head from the side. It is used to evaluate growth of the jaws and the relationship of bones in the skull.

Dental X-rays are very safe and expose person to a minimal amount of radiation. today’s X-ray equipment are able to eliminate unnecessary radiation and allow the dentist to focus the X-ray beam on a specific part of the mouth..