Dental X-Rays are a central part of your dentist’s toolkit for taking care of your oral health. If you’ve maintained a steady oral health care routine that involves visits to your dentist, you’ve likely had dozens of them in your lifetime. While critical in pediatric dentistry, they remain an important diagnostic component in adults as well. There’s nothing better for getting a clear view of a patient’s overall oral health, especially those components that can be hidden from the naked eye. There are numerous types of dental x-rays, we’re going to talk about the most common ones.
Bite Wing X-Rays
This form of X-Ray provides an unparalleled view of a whole side of a patient’s oral structures. The area revealed is from the crown to the roots in the jawbone and can be a powerful diagnostic tool for bone density changes and decay. When restorations are being ordered, they’re also essential in getting a perfect fit and can be used to inspect fillings for integrity.
Occlusal X-Rays
There are times when your dentist requires an image of a full dental arch. It’s at these times that an occlusal x-ray is ordered, often to determine the placement of a patient’s teeth or to discern the development of the same. This makes them a common part of pediatric dentistry, but there are times when it’s important for adult dentistry as well.
Periapical X-Rays
When it comes time for a root canal performed, this is one form of dental x-ray, you can count on being ordered. The purpose of a periapical x-ray is to provide a complete image of a single tooth. Every part of your tooth, from the roots set in the jawbone to the crown that caps it, will be visible, including their internal structures. Its ability to reveal abnormalities in your tooth’s structure helps the dentist prepare for clearing out the pulp and performing a successful root canal treatment.
Tomograms
When your dentist needs to isolate a single area of your mouth from the surrounding structures, they choose to use a tomogram x-ray. These x-rays focus on just one area, blurring out all the surrounding structures so the dentist can focus on that one point.
Sialography
Your dentist is also responsible for monitoring the health of your salivary glands. When something is suspected of having gone awry, they may opt to perform a sialography. This form of imaging starts with a dye injection into the salivary glands to help them show up on the x-ray. This is followed by imaging that will help your dentist see any abnormalities that may appear in their structure.
Dental x-rays are a routine and safe practice performed in dental practices across the United States every day. The already safe and low amounts of radiation are, with improving technology, being reduced even further. Contact Dr. Sam S Sadati at the Sadati Center For Aesthetic Dentistry to learn more about dental imaging and how it’s used as a part of our practice. We’re excited to welcome you to our offices in Wellington, FL!
