What is a Dental X-ray?
A dental x-ray is a radiographic image of your bone and your teeth, essentially everything that's going on behind the skin and in the mouth, and is specifically limited to the head and neck area.
When Do Dentists Take Dental X-rays?
Dentists usually take dental x-rays when we need to see what's happening with the teeth. This can be for a variety of reasons such as a child's tooth not growing in when expected, or if a patient is experiencing pain. X-rays help us diagnose the problem that a patient may come in with, that we're unable to fully diagnose just by what they're telling us.
What is the Purpose of Dental X-rays?
The purpose of dental x-rays is to help us diagnose properly and treat efficiently and accurately a problem that a patient presents with. For example, if a patient has pain, we need to take an x-ray so we know where the pain is coming from. X-rays also help us determine the size and depth of a cavity, if a patient has enough bone to support an implant, and where the vital structures are so we can avoid those and successfully extract a tooth without causing any damage to the patient.
What are the Different Types of Dental X-rays and How are They Used?
There are several types of dental x-rays that we use in dentistry. The typical x-ray, called a periapical or PA, helps us see the roots of the teeth. A bitewing x-ray helps us see cavities in between the teeth, specifically the back teeth. A panorex x-ray, or pano, gives us a full picture of what's happening from joint to joint or ear to ear. A lateral cephalometric x-ray, or ceph, allows us to look at the teeth in relation to the jaw. Finally, a cone beam computed tomography, or CBCT, lets us see the jaw in 3D form. This is especially helpful when placing implants because it lets us know how much bone is there and the density of the bone.
Are Dental X-rays Covered by Insurance?
When we need dental x-rays, a patient will often ask or wonder, does my insurance cover this? And the answer to that is in most instances, yes. They cover on frequency, how often we're taking the x-rays. However, there are times when we need the image to be able to diagnose and treat you correctly, properly, and safely. So in those instances, the patient usually does want to go forward with the x-ray regardless of insurance coverage.
When Should I Schedule a Dental Exam?
We often get asked, when should I schedule my dental exam? And the answer is right away. You need to know what's happening inside your mouth. We can take the x-rays, and then after taking the x-rays and evaluating them, at that point, we do an exam to make sure that everything matches up and to come up with the right treatment for you based on the x-rays and what the dental exam showed.
I hope I've been able to answer some of your questions and concerns regarding dental x-rays. If you feel that you need a dental x-ray or a dental exam or just have some questions in general, please feel free to give us a call here at Sweethart Dental at (954) 437-9288 or you can also go online, schedule an appointment for a consultation at https://sweethartdental.com.