22 Nov Dental Radiographs at Your Mansfield Dentist

Why we take dental X-Rays here at Thackeray Dental Care…

We want to provide the best possible dental care to our patients, but a visual examination doesn’t tell us everything we need to know. Dental x-rays aid us in accurately diagnosing, so that we can treat dental problems early before they become more serious.

These common problems include cavities, gum disease and some types of infections. Radiographs allow dentists to see inside a tooth and beneath the gums to assess the health of the bone and supporting tissues that hold teeth in place.

The frequency of getting X-rays of your teeth often depends on your medical and dental history and current condition. Some people may need X-rays as often as every six months; others with no recent dental or gum disease and who visit their dentist regularly may get X-rays only every couple of years

Dental X-ray exams are safe; however, they do require very low levels of radiation exposure, which makes the risk of potentially harmful effects very small. With modern techniques and equipment, risks are kept as small as possible. However, your dental team will always take care  to use x-rays only when they need to.

Bitewing, periapical and panoramic radiographs are the most common X-rays used dentistry. During routine exams, the dentist may take bitewing x-rays – which show the crown portions of your teeth – to check for early signs of decay between your teeth. Periapical show the bone height or root tips. A panoramic X-ray is taken from outside of your mouth and produces an image of the entire oral cavity on one large X-ray. Because the image shows all of the teeth, as well as the upper and lower jaws and sinus areas, this type of X-ray can identify impaction, cysts, jaw disorders and bone irregularities.

If you want to know more about what we do when you visit the dentist, please call Thackeray Dental Care Mansfield on 01623 629359. Our Practice Coordinator Emily will be delighted to discuss treatments and what’s involved.