Importance of Digital X-Rays

Do you ever wonder why your dentist insists on frequent visits? Perhaps you always think that they want to friends with you. The reality is, dental checkups can significantly influence the state of your oral health. When a dentist is checking your oral cavity, it is more than just another routine exercise. A complete Dental examination covers different tests, including x-rays. As you would imagine, it is not enough to gather information about your entire oral health through visual tests. Some parts of your oral cavity call for more intense exams, which is where digital X-Rays in Lafayette CA come in play. Read on to learn more about these x-rays and why they matter in dentistry.

What Are Dental X-rays?

Digital x-rays Walnut Creek are forms of dental exams conducted during dental visits. A typical x-ray is a radiograph that takes images of a specific area in your body for analysis. When a dentist employs a digital dental x-ray, there is a part of your oral cavity. They seek to evaluate further.

A series of tests are done during a dental visit, including a visual exam and physical exam. A dentist will only require a digital test where there is a need to probe your oral health further. In essence, it is a curate to consider x-rays as preventative tools in dentistry. This is not to mean they cannot be used for other purposes. A dentist near you is likely to employ x-rays during the diagnosis of an oral problem.

What Is The Function Of Digital Dental X-rays?

There is no one single-use to x-rays in dentistry. Your attending dentist in Pleasant Hill, CA, will use the radiograph for a different purpose from another Pleasant Hill dentist. Some of the ways x-rays are used in dental works include:

• Early dental problem detection – right before an oral problem manifests, an x-ray can help discover the problem beforehand. Technically, radiographs are best at detecting even the slightest traces of oral problems at the earliest stage. This gives you an advantage and a better shot at treating oral problems like gum disease, dental decay, cavities, abscessed tooth, oral tumors, and precancerous problems, to mention a few.
• Diagnostic services – when you go to a diagnostic laboratory, one of the services offered is x-rays tests. The images derived from the x-rays will help the dental expert understand the true state of your oral cavity inside.
• Orthodontic assessments – orthodontics is an area of dentistry concerned with the realignment of teeth. The process of moving teeth from one position to another does not only involve the teeth. The bone structure holding your teeth in place also has to change. For that reason, x-ray images are used to assess your bone structure relative to how the teeth are sitting in place. This will help determine which oral appliance is best suited for your treatment.
• Monitoring and evaluation – after treatment, it is not uncommon for dental experts to take x-rays that will allow for proper monitoring and assessment of your oral health. This is especially an important step after periodontal treatment.

How Often Do You Need X-Rays?

Radiographs are not something you consider every time you walk into a medical facility. Technically, they should only be taken on a need basis. The frequency with which you take the radiographs should be affected by:

• Your dental health
• Possible signs of dental problems
• Aging
• Potential risks for oral disease.

Are X-Rays Dangerous?

Over the years, patients worry about the safety of x-rays. The concern is usually over whether or not they are safe for human life because of radiation exposure. However, over the years, a lot has improved in dentistry, including in x-rays. The radiation exposure has been reduced to as low as possibly possible, without necessarily affecting the effectiveness of the radiographs. This makes it safe for humans to go through.

Besides, protective gear is incorporated in the process of taking x-rays to further improve the radiographs’ safety. This covers collars as well as protective aprons. Since you don’t get x-rays every other day, trust that your dentist has the best intentions for your health whenever they have you take a dental x-ray.