Importance of Using Dental X - Rays in Oral Health

The use of dental X-rays in oral health is a common practice for detecting problems of the teeth and jaws. These x-rays help to diagnose problems before further damage is caused, and also help in deciding the appropriate treatment and cure. Dentists make use of dental x-rays to detect tiny areas of decay between the teeth which may not be detectable during routine examinations. Cracks or decay that may have developed in dental fillings are also located with the help of these x-rays. Other uses of dental x-rays include detection of bone loss caused by gum disease, identification of cancer and cysts in the gums, and detecting infection in the pulp of the tooth. Tooth implants require preparation in which dental x-rays also play an important role. Dentists also employ dental x-rays when performing orthodontic treatment procedures. Certain metabolic disorders display symptoms which can also be detected through the use of dental x-rays. In children, normal teeth development can be monitored and potential problems can be quickly detected using these x-rays. X-rays also help to monitor the process of loss of primary teeth, and correct growth of permanent teeth. The growth of extra teeth can also be kept in check through the use of dental x-rays.

Dental x-rays can be of two types; intraoral and extraoral. Intraoral x-rays involve placing the x-ray film inside the mouth. This aids in providing a great deal of detail and helps in detection of cavities. The tooth pulp and bone around the tooth can also be monitored and the health of the teeth and jaws can be examined. Extraoral x-rays involve placing the x-ray film outside the mouth. The main focus of these x-rays is to detect problems in the area of the skull and jaw. These x-rays provide lesser detail and are used mainly for monitoring problems that arise between the jaws, teeth and temporomandibular joint.

There is a newer technique of dental x-rays in which the images are directly transmitted to the computer. These images can be then viewed, stored or printed. This is known as digital imaging and involves less exposure to radiation. With the help of this technique dentists are able to enlarge the x-ray images on the computer screen and view them in greater detail. The images can also be electronically sent to other dental specialists if required. The dentist can even compare the images with earlier images through a process known as subtraction radiography.