General dentistry
We take X-rays when they will change what we do, not out of routine. A new patient usually needs a baseline set so we understand the starting point. After that, the interval depends on your history: patients who rarely get cavities need images less often than patients who get them regularly.
The most common type is a bitewing, which shows the crowns of the upper and lower back teeth and the bone between them. This is where decay hides. Periapical images show a whole tooth from crown to root tip, which is what we need when a tooth hurts or before a root canal.
Modern dental X-rays use a very small dose of radiation, and we shield you and limit images to what is genuinely useful. If you are pregnant or think you might be, tell us and we will plan around it.
Step by step
You should know why an image is being taken before it is taken.
An apron protects the rest of your body. The exposure itself lasts a fraction of a second.
You bite gently on a small holder that keeps the sensor in the right place.
We pull the image up and show you what we see, decay, bone level, root shape, and old work.
Worth knowing
The most common place cavities start, and the one place a visual exam cannot reach. On film it shows as a dark shadow long before you feel anything.
Gum disease destroys the bone holding your teeth in. Images taken over time show whether that loss is stable or still moving.
An abscess forms a dark area at the root end. Catching it early usually means a root canal instead of an extraction.
Common questions
The dose is very low, and we shield you and only take images that will affect your care. For most patients the risk of missing hidden decay is the larger concern.
It depends on your history. Some patients need bitewings yearly, others can go longer. We set the interval with you rather than by default.
You can decline, and we will tell you honestly what we will not be able to see. Some decisions cannot be made responsibly without an image.
New patients welcome
We want to help you keep your teeth healthy for a lifetime. Contact us today and we will find a convenient time.