X-rays are an invaluable diagnostic tool that helps us see the entire tooth, its root and the bone that surrounds it. The roots and jawbone are covered by gum tissue so we can only see a part of the whole tooth by simply looking in the mouth.
A full mouth series of x-rays is a set of x-rays of each tooth that is taken on every adult every 3-5 years. Additional x-rays are taken at cleaning appointments and for emergency purposes. Many times, a patient will have no pain or symptoms but x-rays will show an infection, decay, impacted teeth and/or a tumor in the jaw. X-rays are taken regularly, before any pain, so problems can be detected and repaired when they are small and easier to treat.
A quick FYI-insurance companies will deny claims without x-rays present to support clinical findings. This means refusing x-rays can affect your co-pay. Our office policy is that x-rays are required for treatment due to their role in diagnosing dental disease. We use digital radiography, which exposes the patient to less radiation than conventional x-rays. We take only the necessary x-rays to make a thorough diagnosis of a patient’s dental health. With digital x-rays, we can magnify problem areas and alter the brightness and contrast of the x-ray to see them more clearly. Digital x-rays also minimize environmental waste by eliminating the use of film and film processing chemicals.