Radiographs or X-rays are the basis of any dental care or therapy plan. Despite your family dentist’s expertise, examining your teeth alone won’t always reveal any problems with your mouth or jaw. Our dentist can see the bone structure of your teeth and jaws thanks to comprehensive scanning.
To thoroughly examine your teeth from the enamel to the root, our dentist will take accurate dental X-rays near you. X-rays offer a complete picture of the condition of your teeth, including any cavities that are forming and teeth that have not yet erupted. It will enable the dentist to monitor things and determine the safeguards required for your smile.
But the most common query is, “How frequently should I have dental X-rays done?
Do You Need X-rays Every Year?
A regular dentist typically advises an annual X-ray visit. For the majority of patients, including both infants and adults, two regular checkups are advised. But if you receive a clean bill of health from your regular checkups, do you need to get oral X-rays every year? Do you need to go through this so frequently? The chart below will assist you in deciding how frequently you should get X-rays when you visit our dentist in Pitt Meadows.
Why Get One X-ray Per Year?
A regular dentist will need x-rays yearly to ensure no bone loss, jaw misalignment, or shifts in the teeth. During a routine checkup, these abnormalities can frequently be challenging to find. With X-rays, the general dentist can see inside the bones and beneath the teeth. Normal vision cannot be used to see this. Without yearly X-rays, the general dentist might be unable to spot some abnormalities, which could cause irreparable harm.
Once a year, your doctor will advise you to get dental -rays. However, how frequently you should get them depends on a few factors. It comprises:
- Your oral wellness right now.
- Your age.
- Your risks of getting sick.
- Oral cancer symptoms and signs.
Are Dental X-rays Safe?
There are no risks associated with dental X-rays. The radiation doses emitted are so small that they can’t harm your body. Before exposing yourself to X-rays, our dental professionals will inform you of the safety precautions. We will interview you before you approach the X-ray rooms. These include pregnancy and health issues that might make you susceptible to radiation.
What Happens During the Treatment?
Overall, the process typically takes a short time and is almost harmless. Our dentist or another qualified dental professional typically performs them inside the dental clinic. To protect your body from radioactivity, you will wear a lead apron. A full mouth or panoramic scan, as well as an image of a specific area, will be taken by the specialist.
Depending on the circumstances, several photos might be taken until our dentist has all the views and angles of your teeth required for a diagnosis.
Who Needs X-rays?
Stated everyone should have a radiographic examination of their teeth. However, to be more precise, the following is a summary of who requires dental X-rays and how frequently they should visit their dentist for one:
- Teenagers and children – Young children may still have some or all of their infant’s teeth. Close monitoring is necessary to keep an eye on their forming permanent teeth. However, x-rays must be taken every 6 to 12 months for children and teenagers, particularly those with a history of cavities. Anywhere between 12 and 24 months can be used for those with lower deterioration risk.
- Grown-ups with restored teeth- Dental X-rays are advised every 12 to 18 months if you’ve ever undergone treatments like crowns, fillings, implants, or bridges. By doing this, you can monitor the development of cavities and underlying tooth disease. Every two to three years for healthy individuals.
- Gum disease sufferers – Periodontal diseases may, in extreme instances, result in bone loss. Before having gingival surgery, dental X-rays are crucial to identifying the areas of your teeth that are severely decayed.
- Adults with restored teeth- Dental x-rays are advised every 12 months if you’ve undergone any treatments like crowns, fillings, implants, or bridges. By doing this, you can monitor the development of cavities and underlying tooth disease. Every two to three years for healthy individuals.
- Patients with gum disease- Periodontal diseases may, in extreme instances, result in bone loss. Before having gingival surgery, dental X-rays are crucial to identifying the areas of your teeth that are severely decayed.
- Tobacco users- If you smoke frequently, scheduling checkup appointments with our dentist every six to twelve months is ideal. Smokers lose bone mass, while tobacco chewers develop fractures.
Schedule a Visit Today with Our Dentist!
When was the last time you had an oral exam? You can take charge of your dental health and make sure you receive the care you require to keep healthy gums and teeth by visiting a dentist for a teeth cleaning, oral examination, and x-rays.
Contact Marigold Dental Clinic to get started! We’re excited to see you soon!