Digital X-Ray

The Value of X-Rays

Dental x-rays are pictures of teeth and gums used to see inside your teeth, the roots of your teeth or the bone that surrounds them. Dental x-rays at Walnut Ranch Dental Spa are used as a diagnostic as well as a preventative tool and are an essential part of any dental care treatment plan.

X-rays allow us to:

• Find cavities, tooth decay and damage to the bones supporting the teeth
• Look at the tooth roots
• Check the health of the bony area around the tooth
• Determine if periodontal disease is an oral care issue
• See the status of developing teeth
• Monitor good tooth health through prevention
• Find teeth that are not in the right place or do not break through the gum properly
• Find cysts, solid growths (tumors), or abscesses
• Plan treatment for large or extensive cavities, root canal surgery, placement of dental implants, and difficult tooth removals

Walnut Ranch offers these types of x-rays:

Bitewing X-rays,

taken during most routine dental visits, can show cavities starting to develop between your teeth, as well as bone loss due to gum (periodontal) disease.

Periapical X-rays

are used to find dental problems below the gum line or in the jaw, such as impacted teeth, abscesses, cysts, tumors, and bone changes linked to some diseases.

Occlusal X-rays

show the roof or floor of the mouth and are used to find extra teeth, teeth that have not yet broken through the gums, jaw fractures, a cleft in the roof of the mouth (cleft palate), cysts, abscesses, or growths.

Panoramic X-rays

show the entire mouth area — all the teeth in both the upper and lower jaws — on a single x-ray. This x-ray detects the position of fully emerged as well as emerging teeth.

Tomograms

show a layer or “slice” of the mouth and blur out other layers. This x-ray examines structures that are difficult to clearly see because other nearby structures are blocking the view.

Cephalometric Projections

show an entire side of the head. This x-ray looks at the teeth in relation to the jaw and profile of the individual.

Dental Computed Tomography (CT)

is a type of imaging that looks at interior structures in 3-D (three dimensions). This type of imaging is used to find problems in the bones of the face such as cysts, tumors, and fractures.

Cone Beam CT

is a type of x-ray that creates 3-D images of dental structures, soft tissue, nerves, and bone. It helps guide tooth implant placement and evaluates cysts and tumors in the mouth and face.

Digital Imaging

is a 2-D type of dental imaging that allows images to be sent directly to a computer. The images can be viewed on screen, stored, or printed out in a matter of seconds. Digital imaging has several advantages compared with traditional x-rays. The image taken of a tooth, for example, can be enhanced and enlarged. This makes it easier for your dentist to see the tiniest changes that can’t be seen in an oral exam.

MRI

is an imaging method that takes a 3-D view of the oral cavity including jaw and teeth. (This is ideal for soft tissue evaluation.)

How often should you get dental X-rays?

Walnut Ranch Dental Spa recommends the following for people who have no tooth decay and are not at high risk of getting cavities:

• Adults should have bitewing X-rays every 2 to 3 years
• Teens should have bitewing X-rays every 1½ to 3 years
• Children should have bitewing X-rays every 1 to 2 years

For people who have tooth decay or are at high risk of getting cavities:

• Adults should have bitewing X-rays every 6 months to 1½ years
• Children and teens should have bitewing X-rays every 6 to 12 months