There are many types of x-rays used in dentistry. X-rays help dentists find cavities and problems beneath the gums that the naked eye and standard dental instruments cannot detect.
They are invaluable tools for the accurate diagnosis of scores of conditions commonly treated in both general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry.
Bitewing X-Rays
Bite wing x-rays are the most common type used in general dentistry. They are used extensively to locate cavities on and between teeth. They are also used to see tartar that is building up beneath the gums around the tooth roots.
Worn-out fillings?a problem that is often impossible to detect by looking at the top of the filling with the naked eye?can readily be identified by looking at the bottom of a filling on an x-ray image. Bone recession can also be detected and measured using bitewing x-rays.
The procedure is simple enough. A small film packet is placed in your mouth. This packet has a tab on the side that you bit down on to properly align the film with your upper and lower teeth at the same time.
A lead apron is standard protection in both general and cosmetic dentistry. It is draped over your body to protect you from radiation. Do not be alarmed by this word, though.
Dentists take x-rays using very high speed film, so the amount of radiation is very low. Bitewings expose you to only the amount of radiation you would normally get from 3 weeks exposure to naturally occurring background radiation.
Bitewing x-rays are standard procedure in most general dentistry checkups. They provide vital information that cannot easily or cost-effectively be obtained from other sources.
Complete Dental X-Ray Set
It is also standard procedure in general dentistry to take a complete x-ray series. This involves placing 18 individual film packets in the mouth.
This results in a panoramic picture of your mouth that reveals every detail about your teeth. Dentists can use this to diagnose and determine treatment options for all sorts of conditions, both minor and severe.
However, this requires a great deal of film, and a great deal of exposures to radiation. When a full-mouth examination is in order, dentists often opt for a panographic x-ray of the mouth.
Panographic X-Rays
This advanced general dentistry diagnostic procedure involves positioning film outside the mouth. You do not have to do anything other than sit still. The machine will move around your mouth, taking a full, panoramic set of images that will reveal every detail about your teeth, gums, and jaws.
This is a very fast, efficient method of diagnosing both minor and severed dental conditions. These problems include, but are not limited to, the following:
-Where your wisdom teeth are located and if they appear to be emerging
-If your bone levels are receding, which probably indicates you have periodontal disease
-The presence of a tooth abscess, and the size and severity of that abscess
-Jaw-joint problems when chewing, opening, or closing the mouth
-Certain sinus problems
Panoramic dental x-rays typically expose patients to the least amount of radiation. Although different dentists use different machines, a panographic images adds approximately the amount of naturally occurring background radiation you would receive over a 10 day period.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.massagebyben.com/articles/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites 