Dental x-rays allow dentists to better evaluate the condition of your teeth. They can help to diagnose oral issues like tooth decay or an abscess. They can also be used to evaluate if your teeth are growing the way they should.
X-rays allow your dentist to know exactly what is wrong in your mouth so they can administer appropriate treatments. Dental x-rays are often a part of comprehensive dental examinations, but they are not always performed during routine visits. The average dental patient gets an x-ray once every few years.
Reasons you might need a dental x-ray
Wondering what some of the issues that might require you to get a dental x-ray are? Let us take a look at some of the most common reasons why your dentist might suggest you get an x-ray.
1. To detect decay inside a tooth
A dentist might recommend getting an x-ray if they suspect a tooth’s internal structures have been damaged by decay. The x-ray allows a dentist to see through the outer surfaces of the tooth and detect cavities in areas that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
2. To evaluate bone tissue loss
A person might experience bone tissue loss as a result of missing teeth or a dental condition like periodontal disease. X-rays are typically used to evaluate the extent of the bone tissue loss so the dentist can address it with treatments like bone grafts.
3. To detect decay underneath fillings
Fillings are materials that are used to seal up cavities and to prevent them from expanding. Before sealing a cavity with filling, the dentist removes decayed material from the tooth. That is normally enough to stop decay from further expanding the cavity, but acids that damage teeth might find their way back into the cavity if the filling becomes loose. X-rays can be used to check for decay underneath fillings and other dental restorations like crowns.
4. To check for infection at the tip of teeth roots
Some dental infections occur right at the tip of teeth roots where they cannot be noticed visually. The patient might experience symptoms like sinus pressure or pain. An x-ray can be used to evaluate teeth roots to determine if they are infected. Treatments like root canals and extractions can then be performed to address the infection.
5. To evaluate a patient’s mouth before a major procedure
Dentists like to have a clear picture of any issues in a patient’s mouth before performing treatments like the installation of implants. For example, dentists need to make sure patients have enough bone tissues to hold implants in place and x-rays are used to determine how thick their jaw is. Dentists also use x-rays to establish records of the patient’s teeth they can use as a reference in the future.
We provide diagnostics like x-rays
X-rays are one of the many services we provide at our Auburn location. Give us a call or visit our Auburn clinic to set up a consultation with our dentist.
Request an appointment here: https://pier210dental.com or call Pier 210 Dental Group at (530) 885-5696 for an appointment in our Auburn office.
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