Why Does My Dentist Need To Take X-Rays?

Dental x-rays are an important part of your dental treatment because they can detect damage to the teeth and gums that are not visible during a routine visual exam.

Some of the most common reason your dentist takes x-rays are:

·Looking for decay between the teeth - Sometimes decay is not visible to the naked eye.

· Checking for bone loss associated with gum disease - Gum disease can cause bone loss and the x-ray can show how advanced it is.

· Checking for decay under fillings - Sometime decay under the fillings can occur and the only way to detect this is by x-rays.

· Looking for infection at the tip of the root - Infections can appear at the bottom of the teeth where the bone is, which x-rays are needed to confirm.

· Examine before procedures - Dentist need a full view of the area they will be working on, whether it is braces, fillings and tooth extractions.

So next time you get upset about having another set of x-rays taken, remember this is for your own oral health!

Would you rather take the x-rays and see potential problems or be blindsided?