When is the last time you had dental x-rays? Do you keep putting them off? Maybe it’s the expense. Maybe it’s the radiation, or maybe you just don’t think they are important. When you are considering whether or not to get x-rays, consider this…cavities commonly do not cause symptoms until they are so advanced they may require a root canal, tooth extraction, or other expensive dental treatment. Also consider this…advanced periodontal disease attacks your jawbone. How are you going to know without x-rays?
Why take dental X Rays?
There are other conditions that may be going on with your teeth and jaw that cannot be seen with the naked eye. For instance, dentists cannot see what is going on between your teeth, inside your teeth, at the root, or with your supporting jawbone. The purpose of dental x-rays is to find problems early while they can still be easily treated, preferably without a lot of complexity, pain, or expense.
Why Adults Need Dental X Rays
Aside from checking for decay, adults require radiographs for different reasons than children. Reasons for adult x-rays include: bone loss due to tooth loss or periodontal disease, to aid in the placement of implants, to check for tumors, cysts, and other abnormalities.
Children and X Rays
Children usually need x-rays more often than adults because things are changing quickly inside their oral cavity. Their jaw bone is growing and their wisdom teeth still have to erupt. X-rays for children are used to check for such things as tooth decay, impacted wisdom teeth, and whether there is enough space for permanent teeth to erupt.
Other Conditions
Other people or conditions that may require more frequent x-rays include:
- Smokers
- Patients with periodontal disease
- People with dry mouth
Learn more about why dentists feel that taking dental x rays is so important
Aside from providing high quality general and restorative dentistry services to our community, Dr. James Fondriest also holds respected academic appointments at the Pankey Institute in Key Biscayne, FL, and the Spear Institute in Scottsdale, AZ, and he is a former adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Prosthodontics at the University of Florida Dental School. At Lake Forest Dental Arts, Dr. Fondriest combines his impressive array of experience with modern technology and caring, compassionate, knowledgeable staff. To schedule a consultation, call our office today at (847) 234-0517.
Our practice serves the Chicago metropolitan area including the North Shore and Northwest suburbs