Routine dental cleaning and X-rays are essential components of optimal dental health. Routine cleanings allow us to remove built-up plaque from your teeth, improving enamel retention and lowering your risk of oral health problems. And both cleaning and X-rays are essential in diagnosing tooth decay and other adverse health conditions.

In our many years of experience, diagnosing health issues is simpler when our patients attend regular checkups, and we have access to X-rays as needed. It’s the best way to diagnose unseen issues and prevent problems from worsening.

Why X-Rays Are Important

There are two types of X-rays dentists use to take stock of the teeth and jaw and enhance oral care: 

• Intraoral. We use intraoral X-rays to evaluate the crowns and roots of the teeth. It checks for bone health, tooth decay, and the condition of the teeth. 
• Extraoral. The extraoral X-ray allows our dentists to see a panoramic view of your teeth and check their position. It can also display the entire head to show how the teeth, jaws, and base of the skull align.

The University of Michigan finds that the effects of radiation produced by X-rays are minor. Although the university’s sources seem to support the idea that adverse effects from dental radiation are negligible, we only use X-rays when necessary. They’re incredibly useful in the right context, including where we need to treat a dental problem before it gets worse.

If we suspect problems such as periodontal disease, abnormalities, or tooth infection, X-rays become essential in helping our team create a suitable treatment plan for you.