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Many conditions uncovered by radiographs show few, if
any, symptoms in the early stages, ideally, it´s the early stages when you
would like to treat most aliments, before the become painful or damage
surrounding structures.
Radiographs may help your dentist detect several
conditions:
¨ Tooth
decay hidden between the teeth.
¨ Infections
like dental abscesses or cysts.
¨ Developmental
abnormalities, like extra teeth or teeth that never developed.
¨ Impacted
teeth.
¨ The
extent of periodontal (disease or tooth decay)
¨ Some
types of tumors.
When you are
seeking care with new dentist, radiographs can provide invaluable information.
Dental radiographs can help a new Dentist better understand the status of your
oral health information he or she needs to develop an appropriate plan.
How often
should I have a Dental X-ray examination?
Like all
dental care, dental X-ray examinations are scheduled according to each
patient´s needs. The use of radiographs varies according to your age, risk fir
disease, and your dental history.
If you are a
new patient, the Dentist may recommend a full-mouth series of radiographs
(about 14-2 films depending on the technique used and the size of your mouth)
to helps assess your oral health and analyze changes that may occur later.
When you
return to the dental office as a part of your regular care, radiographs may be
needed to check for any hidden decay, evaluate the condition of bone beneath
your gum tissues, or evaluate the status of growth and development. Of course,
radiographs also can be used to determine the source of any discomfort you may
be experiencing.
Children may
need X-ray examinations more often than adults because their oral structures
are changing as the permanent teeth come into place. Periodic radiographs can
help your dentist chart the progress of this growth and development.
 
What can be
done to minimize exposure during dental X-ray examinations?
¨ Radiographs
should be taken only as needed.
¨ Limit
the X-ray beam to cover only the area being examined.
¨ A
lead apron or thyroid shield can protect the body from exposure.
- A
fast speed film can reduce exposure.
Dental X-ray
examinations are important aid in detecting dental problems that are not
visible during a clinical examination. They pose a far smaller risk than many
undetected and untreated dental problems. If you have questions about you
dental x-ray exam, talk with your dentist.
Are X-ray
examinations safe?
While
radiographs rely on a form of radiation called X-rays, the amount of radiation
exposure during diagnostic tests especially dental X-ray exams us extremely
low.
Because the
exposure is so low compared with other sources of radiation and because the
information revealed by radiographs is so important, the benefit of X-ray
examinations outweighs the risk exposure.
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