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dental x-ray

You are probably familiar with dental X-rays from your trips to the dentist over the years. But what is the purpose of these X-rays, and why do we need them? Dentists use dental X-rays (radiographs) to diagnose dental disease or damage that is not visible on a clinical oral examination.1 These X-rays indicate recommendations for treatment that your dentist may or may not make.

Learn more about dental X-rays, how they work, what they detect, and the risks associated with them.

 

How X-Rays Work

During your dental X-ray, a small amount of electromagnetic radiation is used to create an X-ray image of your teeth, roots, gums, jaw, and facial bones.

Like other forms of X-rays, dental radiographs work by sending a type of energy that is absorbed by solid objects but passes through less dense tissues, like your skin.2 The solid objects (teeth and bones) absorb the energy and appear lighter on the X-ray image. This gives your dentist an internal view of your oral health.

What They Detect

Dental X-rays can detect various abnormalities in your oral health, including early detection of dental issues that weren’t found on a visual oral exam.1 This is useful, as your dentist can recommend certain treatments (for example, braces, implants, or wisdom teeth removal) based on your results.

Some of the things your dentist will examine in your dental X-rays include:4

Position, size, and number of teeth

Changes in the root canal

Bone loss in the jaw or facial bones

Bone fractures

Tooth decay, including between teeth or under fillings

Abscesses and cysts

Impaction of teeth

How the upper and lower teeth fit together

In children and young adults, dentists also look for the presence (including number and size) of the teeth that have not yet grown in. This includes the adult teeth, wisdom teeth, or molars. They also look at the spacing within the jaw to determine how and if the adult teeth will fit when they grow in.