Dental X-rays: Common Questions

(DentiAI ad, 2018)

• Why should I get a dental X-ray?

Dental x-rays, or radiographs, are required to identify and diagnose diseases that are not always
seen with regular visual inspection. A dental x-ray is one of the best interventions for the
progression of periodontitis, oral cysts, and tumors. A dentist will be able to use dental
radiographs to inspect tooth root abnormalities, jawbone fractures, bone loss around teeth or
facial bone structures, and hard to see areas that are prone to tartar accumulation and cavities.
A patient’s refusal of dental x-rays may result in the dentist’s inability to offer treatment.
Attentive and comprehensive care cannot be achieved without the use of dental x-rays.

Dentigerous Cyst (Barrett, 2012) Supernumerary Teeth (Chaudrhy & Sobti, 2020)

• Isn’t radiation bad for my body?

Did you know that the average adult human in the United States is exposed to 3.0mSv of
radiation every year? The most common source of radiation exposure is from “background
radiation” which is the collective radiation that we receive from the sun, minerals from the
earth, electrical devices and even…. each other! (EPA, 2019)

(Whoa gif, 2018)

Depending on the type of dental x-ray the range of exposure can be around 0.005-0.026mSv of
radiation. Although it is true that any amount of radiation is harmful to cellular activity,
 undetected active tooth decay is considered a much greater danger to one’s health. When we
consider medical x-rays of any kind, “the benefit of disease detection far outweighs the risk of
damage from x-radiation”. (Iannucci; pg38) Digital dental x-rays offer the smallest amount of x-
radiation, while still getting information that will help treat the patient’s oral health needs.

(Oral Health article, 2018)

For additional safety during the x-ray procedure, patients are required to wear a protective
apron made of lead or alloy material to protect body organs from potential scatter radiation.
Also, certain alignment devices help to reduce the scatter radiation and focus the x-ray on the
desired target.

(Lead apron stock photo, 2009) (Bitewing X-ray, 2019)

• How often should I get dental x-rays?

A dentist will prescribe dental x-rays on an individual basis. Depending on a patient’s specific
need, a dentist may want more frequent x-rays to review progress of treatment or disease. Once
you have received dental x-rays, they remain a diagnostic source of information for some time.
Bitewing radiographs remain current for 1 year, a Complete Mouth Series and Panoramic
radiographs remain current for 3-5 years.

• What types of x-rays are used in dental offices and why?

There are many different types of x-rays used in a dental office, but here are some examples of
the most used and what information can be gained by them.
(Picassa Xray, 2016)

• Bitewing X-rays are primarily used to determine the extent of any bone
loss around the posterior teeth and detection of tartar or cavities in between premolar and
 molar areas. These areas are the most troublesome to keep clean with even the most
meticulous home care, and therefore, the most prone to the accumulation of bacterial
plaque.
(Tooth N’ Care Dental Clinic, 2016)

• Periapical X-rays are also commonly used by dental

professionals to view the entire tooth from top to bottom. They help to determine any
possible bone loss, development of tartar or cavities around tooth crowns or roots, and
evaluation of the surrounding tooth supporting structures. These types of radiographs, along
with Bitewing radiographs, are combined to compose a Complete Mouth Series, which is an
x-ray representation of a patient’s whole mouth. CMS (BJR Journal, 2016)

(Eastport Dental, 2019)

• Panoramic X-ray is an overall landscape view of the whole

mouth and surrounding structures. This kind of image is useful in the detection of unerupted
teeth, cysts, tumors and fractures in the jaw, upper facial, and neck regions. Panoramic x-
rays are also useful in detecting TMJ, or jaw joint, disturbances.

Presentation by: Jaclyn Flores DH1

Sources: Medlineplus.gov, hps.org, oralhealthgroup.com, Dental Radiography 5th edition