Dental x-rays, or dental radiographs, are essential diagnostic tools used by your dentist to diagnose and prevent severe dental diseases and complications. These images provide the dentist with valuable information not available through a regular dental exam. Early identification of such problems saves you time, money, and unnecessary pain. Dental x-rays in Mira Mesa, San Diego often reveal:
– Abscesses or cysts
– Bone loss around teeth
– Tumors, whether cancerous or non-cancerous
– Decay between the teeth
– Developmental abnormalities
– Poor tooth and root position
– Any other problems inside a tooth or below the gumline
Our patients often wonder if dental x-rays are safe. While x-rays use a low-level dose of radiation to capture diagnostic images, the amount of radiation that a patient receives from a full mouth series of dental x-rays is equivalent to what a person would typically receive in a single day from natural sources present in our everyday lives. With standard precautions in place, x-rays near you are perfectly safe.
At Scripps West Dental, we take x-rays at check-up visits only as necessary. Our San Diego Dentist regularly reviews each patient’s unique situation and requests x-rays only when necessary based on medical and dental history, age considerations, and risk of dental disease. A full mouth series of x-rays is recommended for new patients and is generally good for three to five years. Your dentist in Mira Mesa, San Diego will typically recommend bite-wing x-rays (x-rays of top and bottom teeth biting together) once or twice a year to evaluate the potential development of cavities between teeth.