Discovering Dental X-rays

wagnerdental01
Jun 20
4 min read

Do you often hear “Let’s take a quick x-ray” during your dental appointments and wonder why they're so important? Come along with us to explore the wide world of dental x-rays!

Dental x-rays play a crucial role in keeping your teeth and gums healthy — helping to spot potential oral health issues, infections, or bone abnormalities long before you feel any symptoms.

Why Are X-Rays So Important?

Catch Problems Early

Many dental issues, like tooth decay, gum disease, abscesses, or bone loss, begin below the surface. By the time you feel pain or notice something wrong, the problem may already be advanced. X-rays help detect these issues early, often before you even know there's a problem.

Monitor Growth and Development

For children and teens, X-rays can track how teeth are developing and help identify if orthodontic treatment might be needed. For adults, they’re also important to watch for wisdom teeth, bone changes, and other shifts over time.

Plan Treatment with Precision

Whether you're getting a filling, root canal, dental implant, or extraction, X-rays provide the detailed information your dentist needs to plan the safest and most effective treatment.

Check Bone Health and Monitor Gum Disease

X-rays can show the density and health of your jawbone, which is especially important for patients considering implants or those with advanced gum disease.

Keep an Eye on Hidden Areas

X-rays help your dentist examine areas that are hard to see — such as between the teeth or under existing fillings or crowns — where decay and other problems can hide.

Some people may only need x-rays every couple of years, while others may need them more frequently, or to plan treatment. Your dentist will recommend what’s best for your individual needs, which may change over time.

Clearing Up Common Misconceptions

Some people worry that dental x-rays are unsafe or unnecessary. In reality, the amount of radiation from modern dental x-rays is very low — often less than what you’d get from a short flight on a plane.

Digital x-ray systems reduce radiation even further. They’re also not done at every visit unless there's a clinical reason. Your dentist will only recommend them when they’re needed for your care and will always explain why.

If you’re ever unsure, just ask!

Different Types of X-rays

At Wagner Dental, we take regularly 4 different kinds of x-rays. Each type is designed for specific purposes, including monitoring bone health, treatment planning, and checking for hidden decay.

Bitewing X-Rays

Bitewing x-rays are most often taken every 1-2 years during check up and cleans to review your overall oral health. They help our dentist analyse your upper and lower back teeth, and show the general gum and bone health between the teeth.

Bitewings are great for spotting decay between your teeth — one of the most common places for cavities to form. They’re also helpful in checking for bone loss due to gum disease and monitoring existing fillings.

If you've ever had dental x-rays during a routine check up, they're likely Bitewings.

Periapical X-Rays (PAs)

PA x-rays are taken when our dentists need to assess one specific tooth or area. They are ideal for diagnosing problems below the gumline, such as abscesses, root infections, or physical trauma or damage.

PAs show the entire length of one or a few teeth — from the crown (top of the tooth) all the way to the root(s) and the surrounding gum and jawbone. We most commonly use them for finding the cause of toothaches, and to review treatment during more extensive procedures. They're usually taken before, during or after dental implants, root canal treatment, and extractions, to ensure your treatment is successful.

OPG (Orthopantomogram)

The full name for OPG is quite a mouthful! (no pun intended)

OPG x-rays show a full view of your mouth, including all teeth, upper and lower jaws, jaw joints (TMJ), and lower sinuses. They're incredibly important for treatment planning, reviewing gum and bone health, as well as diagnosing wisdom tooth, jaw, or sinus issues.

OPG x-rays are great for checking wisdom teeth, jawbone development, or planning orthodontic treatments. We also use it to detect cysts, tumors, or other abnormalities in the jaw. We often take OPGs during exams regarding wisdom teeth and jaw pain, or gum disease concerns.

CBCT (Cone Beam CT Scan)

CBCTs are the most advanced x-rays we take at Wagner Dental. They capture a 3D image of the teeth, soft tissues, nerves, and bone in a specific area, giving your dentist a precise map of your anatomy.

They let us view separate layers of your jaw, gums, and teeth from multiple angles, which helps our dentists know exactly what treatments best suit your exact needs.

CBCTs offer incredibly detailed views and are used for more complex procedures like dental implants, wisdom tooth extractions, root canal treatment on difficult teeth, and assessing jaw issues. They're only used when more detailed imaging is necessary — usually before surgery or advanced treatments.

Dental x-rays are a powerful tool in protecting your oral health. They help detect issues early, guide treatment, and give your dentist a complete picture of what’s going on beneath the surface. Don’t let myths or misconceptions stop you from getting the care you need!

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