When it comes to X-rays or radiographs, radiation exposure becomes a cause of concern. The exposure to radiation when receiving dental X-rays is something that you need to understand if you are about to undergo the process.
In our daily lives, we are exposed to much higher levels of radiation naturally from the sun, soil, and even air as compared to the level in dental X-rays. The radiation level a patient is exposed to by X-rays is extremely low, thus making the process harmless.
Getting a dental X-ray done and the number of times, however, depends on your age, oral health, and advice from the dentist. For pregnant women X-rays can be dangerous for a developing fetus. Unless advised otherwise by the dentist or physician, avoid X-rays if you are pregnant.
How X-rays Work?
Images captured will depend on the location of the problem or how the dentist wants the image to appear for easy interpretation. There are different types of dental X-rays to serve these purposes, and they can be categorized into two; intraoral and extraoral.
Intraoral X-rays are where certain devices are put inside the oral cavity to capture images. On the flip side, extraoral X-rays are where a machine is used to take images outside the mouth. In both categories, the dentist can get different X-ray images such as bitewing, occlusal, panoramic, and other types depending on the problem being examined.
Why X-rays are Needed
Some dental diseases are found underneath the gums, in the bone structure, and in between teeth making it hard for a dentist to make a diagnosis with just the naked eye. Radiographs will help dentists in detecting gum disease, cavities, and other dental ailments that are not visible.
Generally, dental X-rays are safe and in case you have any doubts or questions regarding this dental equipment, visit us or call us.
When it comes to X-rays or radiographs, radiation exposure becomes a cause of concern. The exposure to radiation when receiving dental X-rays is something that you need to understand if you are about to undergo the process.