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Why Dental X-Rays are an Important Part of Dental Care

Announcement posted by Candlewood Dental Centre 19 Nov 2015

Joondalup dental care provider reveals why dentists really take dental x-rays.
Joondalup, WA, 19 November 2015 - Most dental patients have come to accept and understand why dentists insist on taking dental x-rays on a regular basis, but Dr Roy Sarmidi of Candlewood Dental Centre in Joondalup recently published a blog post on the subject as a service to consumers and to his patients. A lot of patients like to know why certain dental care procedures are done; it helps them understand matters important to their health and satisfies general curiosity.

Why Dentists Take Dental X-Rays

Dental X-rays are important to any dental care provider because they help the dentist “see” inside the tooth and gums. While dentists can tell a lot by looking at your teeth and gums, there is also a lot that can happen beneath the surface that they need the x-rays to see.

If a dentist doesn’t take dental x-rays, many problems don’t show up until they begin to hurt or become dental emergencies.

For example, in the beginning, tooth decay doesn’t really present many symptoms. Neither do the beginnings of bone loss or infections near the roots of the teeth. Dental x-rays can uncover and expose these conditions and allow the dentist to work on them before they become painful and more expensive.

What Dental X-Rays Detect

As mentioned, dental x-rays can detect the beginnings of tooth decay, bone loss and infections near the roots of the teeth. But they can also detect a lot more:

Problems or flaws in fillings, crowns, root canals or bridges.

Gum disease and the extent to which it is affecting the patient.

A detailed picture of the structure of bones and teeth, allowing the dentist to map out or play procedures such as tooth implants, braces, extractions, root canals or dentures.

Abscesses and infections that haven’t reached the abscess stage yet.

Tooth development anomalies, such as displaced teeth, impacted teeth, malformed teeth, malpositioned teeth, extra teeth, missing teeth or uneven spacing of teeth.

Teeth that haven’t erupted yet, such as wisdom teeth in teenagers.

Cysts, tumors or other developmental issues.

Trauma to the teeth or jaw, such as fractures, broken teeth or even foreign objects.

Determine approximate age in children who are lacking the proper “paperwork” or documentation.

How Often are Dental X-Rays Recommended

Most dentists will take dental x-rays for all new patients unless they can transfer recent x-rays from another dentist. Once a dentist has seen a set of dental x-rays, they take a lot of factors into consideration when determining how frequently to retake x-rays, such as: age, current state of oral health, history or signs and symptoms of oral disease.

Radiation Concerns

While dental x-rays do contain radiation, it is estimated that someone taking a flight on an airplane of between one and two hours will be exposed to the same amount of radiation as a set of dental x-rays. The dentist or assistant leaves the room for safety during x-rays because they are taking multiple x-rays on a daily basis.

According to Dr Sarmidi: “X-rays are a safe and essential part of professional dental care. Providing dental care without them is like driving a car with your eyes closed.”

Candlewood Dental Centre in Joondalup provides a full menu of dental care. They specialise in making patients feel comfortable due to personalised care and approachable staff. They offer emergency dentistry, children’s dentistry and cosmetic procedures such as porcelain laminate veneers. To learn more or to make an appointment, call their office in Joondalup on (08) 9404 9520 or visit their website: http://www.candlewooddentalcentre.com.au/.