Dental X-Rays

How do X-Rays Help?

Dental x-rays or radiographs are very important. They allow the dentist to see things about your oral health that cannot be seen by the naked eye. These items include cysts (sacks of fluid that form on the roots of teeth), cancerous and non-cancerous tumors, invisible decay that occurs between teeth, and the location of teeth that haven't grown all the way in.

By using an x-ray to diagnose these problems, we can treat small problems with minimally invasive procedures before the problem requires costly and potentially painful surgeries and treatments.. In some cases, where dental x-rays show the location of tumorous growths, x-rays can be responsible for saving your life.

Are Dental X-Rays Safe?

Modern dental x-ray machines are very safe. We use only state-of-the-art, low radiation machines. The amount of radiation exposure your body receives on an airplane flight from Los Angeles to New York exceeds the amount of exposure you will receive from a modern dental x-ray machine. Contrast this minimal exposure with the risk of not finding an illness until it is too late, and you can see why we prescribe regular diagnostic x-rays.

How often does my child need x-rays?

Each child's x-ray schedule is customized by age, and stage of dental development. Children who have had dental decay in the past are more likely to experience decay in the future and will often have some type of x-ray every 6 months until they have been decay free for a year. Children at lower risk for decay will have x-rays on an annual basis.

Additional x-rays may be taken if your child has suffered a trauma to the mouth.