Let’s Discuss

It’s very common that an x-ray will be required at your dental appointment for various reasons. We’re often asked, “is it safe?”. The simplest answer is yes but here we’ll go into more details about everything you need to know about dental x-rays.

Why do I need an x-ray?

In order for your dentist to get a full picture of your oral health they require x-rays which allows them to get a view that you just can’t get with the naked eye. An x-ray will allow your dentist to:

✔ Check for decay in between the teeth
✔ Investigate the nerves of the teeth
✔ View old fillings, root canals, crowns or bridges, and implants
✔ Uncover gum disease, abscesses or infections
✔ Identify bone loss
✔ Uncover developmental issues of teeth
✔ Uncover tumours or signs of oral cancer
✔ View wisdom teeth and diagnose the need for removal

For children, x-rays are important for:

✔ Ensuring the child's mouth is big enough to properly accommodate incoming teeth.
✔ Determining whether or not primary teeth are loosening properly to allow secondary teeth to erupt properly.
✔ Monitor the growth of wisdom teeth.
✔ Identify gum disease and decay at an earlier stage.

X-rays will assist your dentist in monitoring your oral health and look out for any changes or developments. Keep in mind, your dentist should only take x-rays when they believe they are necessary to help make an accurate dental assessment or diagnosis.

Are dental x-rays safe?

Yes, they are safe for adults and children alike, due to the amount of radiation that is generated from a dental x-ray being extremely low.

For example, you are exposed to the same levels of radiation from a dental x-ray that you would be on a one hour plane flight, like Sydney to Melbourne!

Dental x-rays for pregnant women

Pregnant women are generally advised to avoid x-rays while pregnant, not because there is any real proven danger to them or their unborn child but as a matter of simple and sensible precaution.

Dental care is very important during pregnancy though and there are certain situations in which a very carefully administered x-ray may still be necessary. For example, it is an accepted fact that periodontal disease in pregnant women can have adverse effects on their pregnancy, and so in some cases a patient's dentist and OB may agree that an x-ray presents far less of a risk than the damage that can be caused by gum disease, as several bodies of research have found that women suffering from gum disease during pregnancy are at an increased risk for giving birth to a pre-term or low birth weight baby.

If an x-ray is called for during pregnancy a dentist consults with a patient's OB first and extra protections like having the patient wear a lead-lined apron and thyroid collar and keeping the number of images taken to an absolute minimum.

As always, the Paramount Dental Sydney team are always more than happy to discuss any concerns you might have ahead of your appointment, just give us a call.