subject: Importance Of Taking Dental X- Rays [print this page] Oral hygiene is extremely important in order to maintain your health. The dentist, however, has a tough job to do. Most of the times, the bacteria and other microbes that are present in the mouth and cause a variety of infections, are not visible and therefore cannot be easily detected. Most microbes hide between the teeth and the gum tissues in order to remain undetectable. It is for this reason that dental X-rays remain the best way to diagnose oral problems or dental anomalies.
The place where the teeth come in contact with each other is the most delicate area. It is also the most decay prone area in the mouth. The doctor may fail to diagnose the decay between the teeth or the infections that already exist in the mouth. These decays cannot be diagnosed by merely a physical examination. If an X-ray is not taken soon, the decay may reach an advanced stage and a root canal treatment may be required.
Dental radiographs and X-rays can also diagnose cysts and decay, and abscesses around the jaw bone, and the rear teeth which cannot be easily seen during a visual examination. Diseases of the gum and many of the other periodontal diseases can systematically destroy the bone structure in the mouth. X-rays can help identify such bone loss too.
In a lot of cases, X-rays may be needed in order to find out if the bone mass is sufficient in order to fix in an implant. The X-ray can help the dentist understand the structure of your teeth so that the direction in which the implant has to be inserted can be better understood.
Types of dental X-rays
Dental X-rays are of two types-intra oral and extra oral. In intra oral x-rays, a small amount of radiation is passed through a selected area in the mouth. These rays form an image on a small dental film that is placed inside the mouth. In extra oral X-rays, larger areas inside the mouth are examined. The X-ray films are larger and are not placed inside the mouth of the person being examined.
During both the processes, a lot of the rays are absorbed by the gums and cheeks, and only a small percentage of the rays actually reach the film. If there are any infections, abscesses or any other abnormalities in the mouth, they appear as darker spots on the X-ray films.
by: Kevin Pederson
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