Forest Smiles – The Best Dentist in Lynchburg, VA
Thanks to an enormous selection of equipment like mouth mirrors, magnification, and intra-oral cameras, your dentist can see what is going on in the mouth. However, there still are many areas of the mouth that are hidden.
The hidden spaces inside the mouth are beneath fillings, inside tooth grooves, in between your teeth, the jawbone and under the gums. These areas are not able to be seen, even by using magnification or probing.
To be able to properly view these spots, the dentist must use a dental x-ray. The x-ray allows the dentist to view vital material in the mouth. He or she can now see the degree of a current gum disease, they can now see a possible cavity, they also become mindful of the filling that is leaking in your bottom right premolar and can now properly see the level of impact that the wisdom teeth is causing.
X-rays are important when a dentist is trying to protect your teeth. The x-rays allow your dentist to see areas that are weakening over time and suggest precautionary measures. For example, in the place where the teeth come together, there is a susceptible spot for the teeth to decay. You have to brush and floss your teeth in a regular schedule to prevent this decay from occurring. Having x-rays done can help your dentist identify the tempered areas in the tooth enamel that lead to an actual cavity, and precautionary action like fluoride gels or increased flossing can rid of the cavity, or even stop it from forming.
X-Rays are also used for watching gum disease. If your family has had a history of gum disease and tooth loss then you should be having regular visits to catch the disease if it occurs. The dentist will inspect the gums using a tool to record specific details. Only will the x-ray give a complete view of the current status of the gums and the progress of the gum disease if it ensues.
Dental associations have come up with the ritual to have a patient take certain types of x-rays every two years to ensure the health of your teeth. An x-ray like the panoramic film is only taken once every 3 to 5 years. This specific x-ray can monitor teeth growth and eruption, the amount of impact of the wisdom teeth, and the current existence of pathology inside the jaw bones.
These dental x-rays play an important role that your dentist should always recommend for a patient. If any questions or concerns arise about the current use of dental x-rays do not hesitate to ask a member of your current dental team.