It’s not extremely pleasant. You have to put on the heavy apron, hold a rigid piece of film in your mouth and sit really, really still while your dentist’s assistant takes x-rays. Is it really necessary? Absolutely! No question about it.
Your dentist can’t see everything that is going on with your teeth, bone, and surrounding tissue without x-rays.
What Hidden Problems Do Dental X-rays Detect?
- Cavities underneath existing bridgework, crowns, or other restorations
- Abscesses, cysts, and infections
- Cavities between teeth just underneath where adjacent teeth touch (interproximal cavities)
- The position of wisdom teeth
How Often Should X-rays Be Taken?
This depends on the dental patient. A patient with no history of cavities, no existing tooth decay, no braces, and no existing crowns, veneers, or bridgework is at low risk for cavities. A high-risk patient is in the opposite situation and may have one or more of the following: earlier tooth decay, existing restorations, braces, weak enamel, chipped or cracked teeth. In addition, patients with an eating disorder or other medical condition may be considered high risk. People who haven’t had their wisdom teeth taken out also need to be supervised with x-rays more frequently.
Contact Cary Family Dental:
919-371-4428
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
915 Kildaire Farm Rd
Cary, North Carolina
27511
