Dental X-rays are an important part of your oral health. They allow our dentist to examine the interior of your teeth, so we can spot problems such as cavities, impaction, and tooth decay. By fixing these problems quickly — with the help of x-rays — we can take better care of your teeth and your overall health. While x-rays fulfill an important role, you may be wondering if they’re safe.
Safety of Dental X-Rays
Dental x-rays are generally considered safe for children and adults, due to the low levels of radiation exposure. There is nothing you need to do in advance of getting x-rays, except for brushing your teeth as you normally would.
At Weninger Dentistry, we use digital x-rays instead of traditional film x-rays. These expose patients to up to 90 percent less radiation than the traditional film, which is already low enough to be considered safe.
Digital x-rays are safer than the conventional type because they rely on digital images instead of film, which not only exposes patients to higher levels of radiation but causes environmental harm. The traditional silver oxide film is developed and fixed in chemical solutions. These chemicals damage the environment. With digital film, an electronic sensor transmits images to a computer screen instantly and without the use of chemicals.
To increase the safety of our patients, we require that everyone wear a lead apron with a thyroid collar during x-rays. The apron covers your body so the radiation does not pass through to your vital organs.
While dental x-rays are safe, we do not recommend them for pregnant women. If you are pregnant or suspect you might be, tell our dentist and we’ll delay x-rays until it’s safe to conduct them.
Why are Dental X-Rays Necessary?
If you still feel nervous about dental x-rays, learning why they are necessary can relieve anxiety. Dental x-rays show the alignment, structure, and interior of your teeth. They allow our dentist to examine:
- how well your bite line up
- whether you have cavities between the teeth
- whether the palate or floor of the mouth has abnormalities
- development of wisdom teeth
- jaw problems
By using x-rays to check for evidence of disease, cavities, or oral abnormalities, our dentist can confirm issues and make a plan for treatment. If tooth decay or cavities are not treated, the problem will worsen and spread. Over time, you could lose teeth. Dental infections develop, which can migrate to the bloodstream and cause serious harm. The best defense against these health issues is treatment of cavities and tooth decay, which relies on dental x-rays.
Talk to a Tampa Dentist
Our Tampa dentists are here for you, so if you have any questions about dental x-rays, do not hesitate to reach out. We are happy to provide you with as much information as possible, so you can get the x-rays you need to keep your teeth healthy while feeling confident about the procedure. Call us today at 813-501-6864 with any questions.