At Happy Kids Dental, we are committed to delivering the highest quality of care to our patients. To achieve this, we use the most advanced dental care technology available. Digital x-rays are a safe, clear way to examine your teeth and provide accurate results. To help you understand how this works, here is some information about our low radiation dental x-rays: what they are, why they are beneficial for you, and how they are taken.
What are Dental X-Rays?
Our dental office offers digital x-rays, which provide numerous advantages over traditional film x-rays. These digital images are a picture of a patient’s teeth, mouth, and jaw that allow the dentist to view the soft tissues, bones, and teeth more clearly. This helps the dentist find cavities and other oral health issues that can’t be seen during a regular examination, such as impacted wisdom teeth. Digital x-rays are faster, more accurate, and have a much lower radiation dose than traditional film x-rays. Additionally, the images can be stored digitally, making it easier to share with other dental professionals. In comparison to conventional film x-rays, our digital x-ray machines have the following advantages:
- Digital x-rays are instantaneous which allows our dentists to immediately review them resulting in faster appointments for our patients. The x-rays are also saved on a computer for later referencing.
- Digital x-rays can be magnified and reveal things that film x-rays can’t.
- Digital x-ray machines use 50% less radiation than film x-rays.
How is a Dental X-Ray Performed?
Dental x-rays are performed in our office. To protect the patient from the radiation, a dental technician drapes a lead apron over them before taking the x-ray. The sensor is then positioned in different areas of the mouth to capture the desired images.
Is a Dental X-Ray Right for You?
At our practice, dental x-rays are typically requested for our patients if an oral health problem is suspected. However, if you are pregnant or suspect you are pregnant, we advise against having an x-ray taken. If a dental x-ray is absolutely necessary, we will provide adequate protection to shield the baby from radiation. We also encourage our patients to have new x-rays taken periodically to monitor changes in their oral health. Dental x-rays can be used to assess the following issues:
- Teeth straightening
- Cavities
- Dental implant placement
- Root canal surgery
- Tooth removal
