One of the many eco-friendly treatments that we offer is digital dental x-rays. Good for the environment (since no chemicals are used to develop the images), they are also good for your body – exposing you to 80-90% less radiation than conventional x-rays!
What are digital x-rays?
What most people think of when they think of “x-rays” are really x-ray photographs. Digital x-rays, on the other hand, are transmitted directly from the processing unit to your dentist’s computer monitor. In this format, your dentist can “zoom in” and enhance the image(s) of your teeth to get a more detailed look at what’s going on inside your mouth.
Are x-rays really necessary?
3oo years ago, people were just beginning to understand that things that couldn’t be seen by the naked eye could have an affect on our bodies. Sometimes, a tooth may look fine to the naked eye, but decay, impacted teeth, bone loss and abscesses are not always clinically visible.
X-rays are also useful to determine the eruption status of your child’s permanent teeth. They are instrumental in guiding an orthodontic regimen for your child, should that be necessary.
X-rays are an essential tool for early detection of dental problems, and digital x-rays are a safer, easy way to be pro-active in your oral health.
How often do you need x-rays?
The greatest effectiveness of x-rays is achieved through regular updates. Avoiding x-rays can only further complications that may arise from dental issues that are not visible to the eye during your regular exams and cleanings.
- Full Mouth Series – every 3 to 5 years
Often called an “FMX”, the full mouth series is an extensive set of films that show a complete survey of the teeth and bones. The multiple angles at which the full mouth series are shot make this one of the best ways for us to find decay and other dental issues.
- Bitewings – every 2 years
Bitewings are a series of two to four images of the top and bottom back teeth. This is the minimum set of x-rays needed to document the basic form and structure of your teeth.?
- Panoramic Film (Panorex) – every 2 to 5 years
The panorex is a large single shot of the entire mouth, and shows the entire bony structure of the teeth and jaw. This view affords your dentist a good look at your temporomandibular joint(TMJ), wisdom tooth position and any pathological structures like tumors or cysts.
