Digital Dental X-Rays in NYC

The Benefits of Digital X-Rays

Many serious dental problems begin as small, under-the-surface issues. If they are caught early enough, they can be treated without undue pain, stress or expense. Dental X-rays are your dentist’s secret weapon against these hidden problems and unwanted symptoms.

X-rays provide in-depth, below-the-surface images of your teeth, gums and jaw. These views give dentists the opportunity to find and diagnose any hidden or invisible dental problems early on. In return, your dentist can treat the issues faster and more effectively.

Without these X-rays, your dentist would only be able to conduct a visual examination of the surface of your teeth – looking for any obvious signs or symptoms. As a result, there would be potential for certain issues to remain unchecked, which could cause them to worsen over time and cause significant pain. Because digital X-rays can prevent these situations from happening, they are an invaluable part of any dental exam.

Dentists also use dental X-rays when they are preparing for dental procedures that require precision, such as implants, braces, dentures and other dental procedures.

Problems Dental X-Rays Can Detect

A dental X-ray can reveal a wide range of issues within a patient’s mouth. The following are some of the most common problems that dental x-rays detect:

•      Cavities forming between two teeth
•      Decay occurring beneath an existing filling
•      Bone loss accompanying gum disease
•      Infections causing changes in the tooth bone or root canal
•      Infections forming at the root of a tooth
•      Abnormalities in the mouth, including cysts and tumors
•      The development of wisdom teeth

Who Should Get Dental X-Rays?

Many dental issues can be invisible and painless, and dental X-rays are very safe. As such, our team at All Smiles Dental recommends dental X-rays for everyone – including children, adolescents, adults and pregnant women. If you are a new patient at All Smiles Dental, dental X-rays will be part of your initial exam.

The appropriate frequency of X-rays depends on your specific dental health and history. Your age, risk for disease and current symptoms will also affect how often you should get X-rays. For example, children, smokers and people with gum disease or dry mouth should get X-rays more often. The average patient, however, only needs dental X-rays once every 12-18 months.

Types of Dental X-Rays

Several kinds of dental X-rays are still in use today, but most dentists in NYC use either traditional or filmless X-rays. By learning more about each of these X-rays and finding out which one your dentist uses, you can better understand what to expect during your visit.

Traditional X-Rays

Traditional X-rays use photographic film to produce an image of your teeth. The results are what come to mind when most people think of X-rays: the sheets of film that are placed on a background light in order to be viewed. If you have ever been required to wear the heavy, lead apron for your X-rays, then you were having traditional X-rays taken. The apron protects patients from the moderate levels of radiation that is a side effect of the process.

Filmless X-Rays

Filmless X-rays impart far less radiation than traditional X-rays and do not require film. Another significant benefit of filmless X-rays is that they are digital form: they can be edited and digitally enhanced, displayed on a monitor for easy viewing and permanently saved to a patient’s file. Not every dentist in NYC offers filmless X-rays, although they are becoming more popular due to their enhanced safety.

Get Dental X-Rays at All Smiles Dental

All Smiles Dental, a highly-rated and reliable NYC dental office, offers dental X-rays as a regular part of the dental exam. We also have financing options that make your dental health an affordable priority, and our experienced and caring staff always puts your needs first. Schedule an appointment online today to get the dental X-rays and care that will keep your teeth in excellent health.