Many patients have concerns about x-rays.
But, the American Dental Association (ADA) states that a person absorbs more radiation from the sun every single day than x-rays taken at the dentist every six months.
Since many dentists' radiographs are digital, the radiation exposure is extremely less than traditional methods.
The first thing that radiographs help determine is the bone levels of your jaw.
One of the biggest causes of tooth loss is periodontal disease, or disease of the gums and bone.
It begins as gingivitis and can grow uncontrollably into severe gum "periodontal" disease.
The x-rays help to determine bone levels and the condition of bone loss due to periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease can be determined by looking at the gums, but in all cases radiographs are needed to determine severity of bone loss.
Why does the dentist need to determine bone levels? Identifying bone loss early, through x-rays taken every six months, allows the doctor to be able to address the likelihood of patients' having periodontal disease.
Horizontal bone loss suggests aggressive periodontal disease, but that can be treated with great results.
However, vertical bone loss is a more aggressive disease and is more difficult to achieve a good results.
Secondly, radiographs are also helpful in diagnosing oral pathology from identifying cysts to cancerous lesions, which are impossible to determine by visual examination alone.
In addition, anything that is happening below the teeth and gums, cannot be seen.
Ethically and legally x-rays are needed to keeppatients safe, healthy, and out of pain, and - most importantly - keeping the patients' out-of-pocket costs low.
Thirdly, x-rays identify things in your mouth that are going on that could never determined just by sight - broken roots, cavities, and failing restorations (just to name a few!).
The importance of regular radiographs is stressed because they will identify problems even when the patient isn't experiencing any symptoms.
If your tooth hurts, you could have more than a little cavity, it could be an infection or a fractured tooth.
When it hurts, you have waited too long.
Dentists have seen many cases where a new patient came to the office in pain, after seeing his/her dentist just 6 months ago.
Upon taking new x-rays, a broken tooth has been identified.
It snapped shortly after getting a root canal at the last office and now an abscess has formed.
Cavities and decay can also develop quickly and within six months.
Insurance Companies and Radiograph Restrictions Although x-rays are an important tool in the diagnostic process, insurance companies usually have restrictions and frequency limitations on what type of x-rays can be taken, when and how many are allowed.
Even though x-rays are all the same, just the techniques are different, insurances sometimes won't pay for them.
Sometimes with the restriction from the insurance companies the patient will have to pay out of pocket for the necessary x-rays so that the dentist can determine the condition of the teeth.
Rest assured, the dentist would never take x-rays if it was not necessary or essential for the overall well being of your oral health.