Why Does My Dentist Need to Take So Many X-rays?
Why does my dentist need to take so many X-rays?
If you visit your dentist regularly, you might wonder why they mention X-rays so often. In short, they provide a meaningful picture of your dental conditions that are not directly visible. If you have a particular dental issue, the reasons behind the X-rays would be apparent. However, if you are seeing the dentist regularly and wondering why they are being recommended if you are not feeling any pain, the core reason is to be preventative in treatment.
Your Winter Park dentist always wants to diagnose any potential issues before they cause you pain or risk your dental health. Catching problems early minimizes patient cost, time, and discomfort. So, a preventative x-ray can often help a dentist confirm or rule out a potential issue so it can be addressed early. At our office, we recommend 4 “bitewing” x-rays during your regular cleanings every six months.
These smaller X-rays are towards the back of the mouth, where it is most common for buildup or cavities to form. Additionally, because this area is more challenging for the dentist to see because of the location, it aids in confirming any diagnoses the doctor may have from the visual checkup. If anything bothers the patient at the appointment, the dentist may also recommend additional X-rays, but only in the areas where the minimum is necessary.
What are the different types of dental x-rays?
Panoramic X-rays: provide a broad "wide angle" view of all your teeth, jawbones, sinuses, and the surrounding skull. These X-rays show your local dentist all your teeth about each other and your jaw. They also assess proximity to sinuses, wisdom teeth, and TMJ "jaw joint" issues. Panoramic X-rays also provide an easy view of a child's adult teeth before they are visible.
Full mouth/bitewing / periapical x-rays: provide a detailed "zoomed in" view of your teeth. These are taken one at a time for each area of the mouth to get a high-quality image the dentist can use to see details for diagnosing any dental issues.
Cone Beam (CBCT) x-ray: representing the latest in modern dental x-ray technology, a CBCT x-ray is a 3D image that your local dentist can use to see the "depth" of a traditional 2D x-ray. This provides the ability to diagnose cracks in the tooth, plan for implant placement, and perform complex oral surgery. These are typically only performed by a specialist as required for major dental procedures.
How often should I be getting dental x-rays?
Regarding frequency, panoramic X-rays are typically taken every 3-5 years or when a major dental procedure requires them. You will most commonly receive a panoramic X-ray during a new patient exam. However, if you are starting or finishing procedures such as braces, Invisalign, dental implants, or multiple extractions, it may be essential to have a panoramic X-ray taken by your dentist to get a complete picture of your current dental health.
Full mouth X-rays are typically taken during new patient exams. However, for bitewing x-rays, our dentist recommends small ones in the back of the mouth during your regular 6-month check-ups. Since it's more prevalent for cavities to form in the back of the mouth, this guidance is a preventative measure to identify issues before they occur.
Finally, these are the most common X-rays to be taken during a restorative or major dental procedure. Typical examples would be after a deep cleaning to confirm the area underneath the gums has been completely cleaned or to confirm a root canal was completed successfully.
Why do deep cleanings require so many X-rays?
A “deep cleaning” is commonly used for scaling and root planning procedures when patients need periodontal treatment. One of the critical issues being solved during these deep cleanings is the removal of calculus and tartar from underneath the gumline. Because these areas are hard to reach and impossible to remove with regular brushing and flossing, your dental hygienist and dentist need to use special cleaning instruments to clean the area and bring it back to health.
You can imagine the minimal amount of space, access, and light available to perform the procedure. Thus, to confirm the successful removal of foreign particles like calculus, an X-ray is used to verify both before and after. This way, your insurance company also uses the before and after x-rays when processing dental claims. The insurance company also uses these to confirm their members are getting the appropriate treatment. Your dental hygienist or dental assistant will typically take some before and after x-rays throughout the deep cleaning procedure to ensure the job was done thoroughly and for your insurance claim as well.
How can I minimize the x-rays I need?
You can always ask your Winter Park dentist for the reasons behind taking an x-ray and confirm if this is correct for you. You can always decline a dental x-ray at our office, provided you also confirm that you accept any additional risk from undiagnosed dental conditions. Suppose you have switched dentists recently and don’t believe you need new X-rays. In that case, we advise you to ask your dental office (preferably in person) for an emailed or digital copy of your X-rays to be provided to you directly. Because it can be difficult for an office to request them on behalf of a patient, it is usually the easiest for a patient to ask directly. This way, you can provide those X-rays to your Winter Park dentist and only take X-rays as needed.
If you have any questions regarding dental x-rays or perhaps need a regular checkup and cleaning, please call our office or schedule an appointment online!
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