So Why Are Dental X-Rays Important? X-rays, also known as radiographs,
allow your dentist to see between and inside your teeth
. Dental X-rays are important because they give your dentist the whole picture. They help dentists see the condition of your teeth and also the roots, jaw placement, and facial bone composition.
What are dental images used to detect?
Types and Uses of Digital Dental Radiographs. Digital dental radiographs can be taken inside (intraoral) or outside (extraoral) the mouth. Intraoral X-rays, the most commonly taken dental X-ray, provide great detail and are used to detect
cavities
, check the status of developing teeth and monitor teeth and bone health.
What are dental images used for?
Dental X-rays (radiographs) are images of your teeth that your
dentist uses to evaluate your oral health
. These X-rays are used with low levels of radiation to capture images of the interior of your teeth and gums. This can help your dentist to identify problems, like cavities, tooth decay, and impacted teeth.
Why are dental radiographs so important?
Like medical radiographs, dental radiographs
allow your dentist to evaluate any injuries to your face and mouth
. Dental radiographs can help your dentist iden- tify diseases and developmental problems before they become serious health issues.
What is the art and science of making radiographs?
Radiography
is the art and science of using radiation to provide images of the tissues, organs, bones, and vessels that comprise the human body. Radiologists, physicians who have had special training in interpreting diagnostic images, read or diagnose these images.
What are the three types of dental images?
There are three types of diagnostic radiographs taken in today’s dental offices
— periapical (also known as intraoral or wall-mounted), panoramic, and cephalometric
. Periapical radiographs are probably the most familiar, with images of a few teeth at a time captured on small film cards inserted in the mouth.
What does start of cavity look like?
What Does a Cavity Look Like? While it is usually difficult to see a cavity in its beginning stages, some cavities start with
a whitish or chalky appearance on the enamel of your tooth
. More serious cases can have a discolored brown or black color. However, most often there are no distinguishable red alerts.
What teeth do Bitewings show?
Bitewing X-rays show details of the
upper and lower teeth
in one area of the mouth. Each bitewing shows a tooth from its crown (the exposed surface) to the level of the supporting bone. Bitewing X-rays detect decay between teeth and changes in the thickness of bone caused by gum disease.
Is radiology the same as radiography?
Radiographers are the medical professionals tasked with operating highly specialized, state-of-the-art scanning machines. These health care professionals operate medical imaging equipment, while radiologists are primarily concerned with providing imaging interpretation.
Is a radiographer a doctor?
Clinical radiologists are
doctors
who use images to diagnose, treat and manage medical conditions and diseases.
What are the types of radiography?
- Radiography.
- Computed Tomography (CT)
- Dental Cone-beam Computed Tomography.
- Fluoroscopy.
- Mammography.
How long can a gum infection go untreated?
The Danger of Untreated Infected Teeth and Gums
An infection in your body is considered a threat. If they are not treated, they can last
for several months or years
. There are two types of dental abscess – one can form under the tooth (periapical) and the other in the supporting gum and bone (periodontal).
Do dentists lie about cavities?
A cavity is a cavity and there should be no difference between two dentists, right? The
answer is not always
. Unfortunately, a cavity can be deceptive. It can hide and be obscured by old fillings, location, or just not be obvious by eye or X-ray.
Can you brush away a cavity?
They occur when bacteria from food sits in between the teeth and if not removed with flossing, the bacteria will slowly start to eat away at the tooth and cause decay, or, a cavity. Unfortunately,
once a cavity is fully formed, it is nearly impossible to simply brush and make it go away
.
How can you tell cavity?
- Toothache, spontaneous pain or pain that occurs without any apparent cause.
- Tooth sensitivity.
- Mild to sharp pain when eating or drinking something sweet, hot or cold.
- Visible holes or pits in your teeth.
- Brown, black or white staining on any surface of a tooth.
- Pain when you bite down.
What is the black in between teeth?
When
tartar
reaches below the gum line, referred to as subgingival tartar, it tears into the blood vessels located within the gum. When blood pigmentation and proteins mix with tartar, they turn it black.