Helpful Diagnostic Tool In Every Dental Office
Dental x-rays or dental radiographs are images of the teeth and surrounding tissues. These images help the dental professional analyze and assess your oral health issues by giving valuable information about the teeth, gums, and surrounding bone structure. Find out how x-rays work and when they are most helpful.
X-rays pass through the mouth in very low levels of radiation that penetrate the interior of tooth, gum, and bone structure. As it is, the teeth and the bone absorb more of the radiation so they appear lighter or whiter on the final image. If there is presence of decay or an infection, those areas appear darker than the rest as they do not absorb as much radiation.
Your dentist may require you to have an x-ray if there is a need. It does not entail special preparation. However, it may be ideal to have to brush your teeth before the appointment. This will ensure a more aseptic environment to work on.
Most x-rays are intraorally taken, or inside the mouth. There are different views, hence, different types of x-rays. There’s the periapical technique that catches images of a few teeth at a time using small film cards inserted in the mouth. It focuses on a couple of complete teeth, from root to the crown. The bitewing technique involves biting down on your teeth, primarily to see the alignment of the crowns. It also checks for cavities between teeth. The panoramic x-ray is a wrap-around image of the patient’s mouth, useful for studying the jaw and the position of the teeth relative to one another. It can also check the wisdom teeth and any present jaw issues.
The cephalometric x-rays (extraoral) capture the image of the entire head in profile. These x-rays are usually used by orthodontists to assess or diagnose misalignment of the jaw, relationships between crooked and non-crooked teeth, and any bite problems.
How helpful are dental x-rays? As earlier mentioned, different x-ray views offer their specific uses. Generally, radiographic images identify abscesses, cavities, cysts or tumors, impaction, and other developmental abnormalities. It enables your dentist to make a plan of treatment, whether that may be a restorative or corrective nature.
For Better Oral Health In Bellevue
Dental x-rays are one of those diagnostic tools that makes dental treatment efficient and effective.
