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Dental
X-rays
Dental
problems often go undetected because they remain hidden within the teeth
and bones of the mouth. X-rays identify these unseen developments. In
addition to visually identifying cavities, X-rays can detect trauma
to the teeth and bones, show impacted teeth, and illuminate signs of
periodontal or bone disease. X-rays are an inexpensive and relatively
harmless way to detect dental problems before they result in serious
and potentially costly problems down the road.
How
X-rays work
When a patient needs an X-ray, the dentist inserts a photographic filmcard
into the mouth at the location where the X-ray is taken. When the X-ray
is filmed, a majority of the rays are absorbed by the hard parts of
the mouth, namely the teeth and jawbone. These show up on a radiograph
(an X-ray film which shows the X-ray results) and display any areas
of concern that need to be addressed.
Types
of X-rays
There are three main types of X-rays: bitewing, periapical, and panoramic.
Bitewing X-rays can detect any decay that is occurring in between teeth.
Periapical X-rays identify the structure of the jaw, the roots of a
particular tooth, and the formation of abscesses. Panoramic X-rays,
on the other hand, provide a full shot of a patient's mouth. This type
of X-ray allows the dentist to get an overall sense of the tooth and
bone structure of a patient's mouth. Panoramic X-rays are ill suited
for pinpointing minute conditions of individual teeth. Every 3-5 years,
a dentist takes a complete set of X-rays in order to get a detailed
visual picture of a patient's mouth. This usually consists of approximately
18 films.
Health
Concerns
Because X-rays do contain a small amount of radioactive material, patients
often worry about this exposure. Fortunately, X-rays are taken with
high-speed film that minimizes a patient's exposure to this radiation.
Combine this with a lead apron and the high tech equipment used by today's
dentists, and patients have little cause for worry. In fact, normal
dental X-rays are safer than allowing existing problems in the mouth
(cavities or impacted teeth) to persist. Children typically need more
X-rays because of the growth and changes occurring in their mouths.
Although there is little or no risk, parents should monitor how often
their children have X-rays taken.
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