Dental radiographs (x-rays) are essential, preventative, diagnostic tools that provide valuable information not visible during a regular dental exam. Dentists and dental hygienists use this information to safely and accurately detect hidden dental abnormalities and complete an accurate treatment plan. Without x-rays, problem areas may go undetected.
Dental x-rays may reveal:
- Abscesses or cysts
- Bone loss
- Cancerous and non-cancerous tumors
- Decay between the teeth
- Developmental abnormalities
- Poor tooth and root positions
- Problems inside a tooth or below the gumline
Detecting and treating dental problems at an early stage can save you time, money, unnecessary discomfort, and your teeth!
Are Dental X-Rays Safe?
We are all exposed to natural radiation in our environment. The amount of radiation exposure from a full mouth series of x-rays is equal to the amount a person receives in a single day from natural sources.
Dental x-rays produce a low level of radiation and are considered safe. Dentists take necessary precautions to limit the patient’s exposure to radiation when taking dental x-rays. These precautions include using lead apron shields to protect the body and using modern, fast film that cuts down the exposure time of each x-ray.
How Often Should Dental X-Rays Be Taken?
The need for dental x-rays depends on each patient’s individual dental health needs. Your dentist and dental hygienist will recommend necessary x-rays based on the review of your medical and dental history, dental exam, signs and symptoms, age consideration, and risk for disease.
A full mouth series of dental x-rays is recommended for new patients. A full series is usually good for three to five years. Bite-wing x-rays (x-rays of top and bottom teeth biting together) are taken at recall (check-up) visits and are recommended once or twice a year to detect new dental problems.
Digital X-Rays At South Suburban Family Dental
At South Suburban Family Dental in Blue Island, IL, we use digital x-ray technology to provide our patients with faster, more comfortable, and more accurate diagnostic imaging than traditional film-based x-rays allow. Digital x-rays produce significantly less radiation than conventional film x-rays while delivering higher-resolution images that are available for immediate chairside review. This means our doctor and hygiene team can walk you through your x-rays in real time, pointing out exactly what they are seeing and explaining any findings in plain language before any treatment discussion begins.
For patients who have been coming to South Suburban Family Dental for years, digital x-rays represent a meaningful upgrade in both the diagnostic quality of their care and the overall efficiency of their appointments. For new patients, they provide a fast, comfortable first look at the full picture of their oral health that helps our team develop an accurate, personalized treatment plan from the very first visit.
Digital imaging also supports better long-term monitoring of your oral health over time. Because images are stored digitally and can be compared side by side across multiple years, our team can track subtle changes in bone levels, detect developing concerns earlier, and make more informed treatment recommendations based on a clear visual history of how your dental health has evolved. At South Suburban Family Dental, investing in technology that makes your care more accurate and your experience more comfortable is simply part of how we have served the Blue Island, IL community with friendly, honest, and reliable dentistry since 1983.