Digital dental x-rays, the choice of our office and the popular choice among dentists today, use a very small amount of electromagnetic radiation to capture an image of your teeth and their surrounding structures.
The sensor will penetrate each part of the tooth, tissue and bone differently. Denser areas– such as amalgam fillings and other restorations – will block most of the photons and appear white, while teeth and tissue will show in shades of gray. Tooth decay will appear darker than the surrounding area due to its decreased density.
These images (radiographs) are the ONLY way a dentist can diagnose certain problems, including cavities between the teeth, bone infections, types of benign and malignant tumors, bone loss and impacted wisdom teeth.
Without them, your provider is limited in the care he/she can provide, and may miss catching a problem early enough for it to be successfully treated.
For our patients in Chicago Dental X-Rays come in many types, each with a different purpose and recommended frequency. This will vary depending on the patient and the situation, but generally, the ones we like to have for our patients are:
Cone Beam Computerized Topography (CBCT): a 3-dimensional image that gives us the most comprehensive information about the tissues in the oral cavity, head, and neck. 3-D imaging is especially useful for our patients who have had a lot of dental work in the past, are experiencing difficult-to-diagnose pain, still have their wisdom teeth, have sleep or sinus issues, or who need implants. We like to have this or the panoramic x-ray once every 5 years.
Panoramic X-Ray: This image gives us a good view of all the soft and hard tissue of your oral cavity. It is the primary way a dentist can assess any potential bone loss and the health of your wisdom teeth. We like to update this x-ray every 5 years.
Bitewing X-Rays: These are cavity detection x-rays that allow the doctors to see in between your back teeth, one of the most common spots for cavities to develop. We like to get a set of these every year, and they’re comprised of a quick 2 images on each side.
Periapical X-Ray: Sometimes, the doctor just needs a focused image of a single or few teeth, whether because they see something suspicious or because the patient is experiencing discomfort. This single shot gives them a clear view of the tooth from root to tip.
I Don’t Have Time
Taking digital dental x-rays adds, at most, 5 minutes to any given appointment, making them a quick and invaluable part of your examination.
They Are Too Uncomfortable
A lot of this fear stems from memories of the extremely uncomfortable full mouth dental x-rays of old, which used 18 separate films to get a complete picture of your teeth. New technology means no more uncomfortable film, smaller sensors, and faster image capture. It’s painless, we promise!
I Don’t Want All That Radiation
This is by far the most frequent complaint we hear, and the biggest myth in need of dispelling. Especially given the advent of digital images, radiation exposure from x-rays is minimal. The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission estimates that the average person is exposed to roughly 620 millirems per year, which has been judged to be perfectly safe for humans and of which half comes from natural sources. In contrast, a single digital dental x-ray is about 0.1 millirem, and our most comprehensive 3-D image ranges from 7-12.8 millirem. To put that in context, the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements pegs the occupational radiation exposure limit at a whopping 5000 millirem per year, or around 400-5000 times what you’d get from a set of yearly x-rays. It’s about the equivalent of exposure from a cross-country flight, and a completely worthwhile cost to ensure your oral and systemic health.
To Put This Exposure Into More Context:
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We are proud to offer exceptionally experienced, compassionate, and comprehensive Chicago dental care to our patients. Contact us today or schedule an appointment online to take the first step toward your best experience and results.
Monday 8am to 5pm
Tuesday 7am to 6pm
Wednesday 7am to 5pm
Thursday 8am to 5pm
Friday 8am to 2pm
Saturday By Appointment
Sunday Closed
