Dental X-Rays: What They Show, Safety & When They’re Needed
Some dental problems develop where they cannot be seen during a regular examination. Dental X-rays give Dr. Christine Chin important information about your teeth, roots, bone and surrounding structures so she can evaluate areas that may not be visible otherwise.
No. Dental X-rays should be recommended based on your individual needs. Your dental history, current oral health, age, symptoms, previous X-rays and risk for problems such as tooth decay or gum disease can all affect when new images are useful.
What Can Dental X-Rays Show?
A visual dental examination provides a great deal of information, but it cannot show everything happening inside a tooth, between teeth or beneath the gum line.
Depending on the type of X-ray taken, dental images may help Dr. Chin evaluate:
Decay between teeth or beneath existing restorations
The roots of teeth and surrounding bone
Bone changes associated with periodontal disease
Certain infections or changes around a tooth root
Developing teeth and tooth position
Other abnormalities that may require closer evaluation
Finding a problem that cannot be seen during a visual examination can help Dr. Chin determine whether treatment or additional evaluation is needed.
Are Dental X-Rays Safe?
Dental X-rays use a small amount of ionizing radiation. Modern dental imaging is designed to obtain the diagnostic information needed while limiting radiation exposure.
The important principle is to take dental X-rays when they are expected to provide useful information for your care—not simply because a certain amount of time has passed.
If you have questions about why an X-ray is being recommended, ask us. We want you to understand what information the image can provide and why Dr. Chin believes it may be useful.
How Often Should Dental X-Rays Be Taken?
There is no single X-ray schedule that is appropriate for every patient.
Someone with a history of frequent cavities, active dental problems or periodontal disease may need imaging at different intervals than someone with a low risk of dental disease and a stable dental history.
Dr. Chin may consider factors such as:
Your current dental health
Your history of cavities or gum disease
Changes or symptoms found during your examination
Your age and stage of dental development
When previous dental X-rays were taken and what they showed
What Are Bitewing X-Rays?
Bitewing X-rays show the crowns of the upper and lower teeth in the same area. They are particularly useful for evaluating areas between teeth where early decay can be difficult to see during a regular examination.
They can also provide information about existing restorations and the supporting bone around the teeth.
How often bitewing images are appropriate depends on your individual dental health and risk factors.
What About a Full-Mouth Series or Panoramic X-Ray?
Different types of dental X-rays answer different questions. A full-mouth series provides detailed images of the teeth and surrounding structures from multiple views. A panoramic X-ray provides a broader view of the teeth, jaws and surrounding structures.
Dr. Chin can determine which type of imaging, if any, is appropriate based on what needs to be evaluated.
What If I Already Had X-Rays at Another Dentist?
Let us know. If recent dental X-rays are available from your previous dental office and provide the information Dr. Chin needs, they may help avoid unnecessary repeat imaging.
Our team can discuss which previous records would be useful when you become a patient at Cedar Hills Dental Care.
Thoughtful Dental Care Near Beaverton
Cedar Hills Dental Care has cared for more than 10,000 smiles since 1986. Dr. Christine Chin brings more than 35 years of dental experience to helping patients understand their oral health, including when diagnostic dental imaging may be useful.
Related Dental Information
This information is intended for general dental education and is not a substitute for an examination or individualized dental advice.