Dental X-Rays
Our office uses Low-Radiation Digital X-rays to minimize exposure.
Radiographs are commonly called x-rays. An x ray image is formed after the X-rays pass through the oral structures and strike a film or sensor. There are several types of x-ray images and dentist use for many reasons.
One of the images is known as the Periapical view. The periapical view x-ray takes the anterior and posterior (front and back) teeth. This is used to detect changes in the bone surrounding the roots of the teeth. This is helpful to determine cavities and the cause of pain in a tooth and helps to determine the need for endodontic therapy (also called as Root Canal Treatment – RCT). It’s also used to see the successful progress of endodontic therapy, once it is initiated. It can be used to detect hyperdontia (supernumerary teeth – extra teeth) and impacted teeth.
Another type of X-ray is the bitewing view. The name bitewing refers to a little tab of paper or plastic situated in the center of the X-ray film, which is bitten on by a patient. The bitewing view is taken to see the crowns on posterior teeth and the height of the bone around the teeth. Bitewing views are more accurate than periapical views in detecting interdental caries, recurring caries under restorations and bone levels.
The third view is the occlusal view. It is indicated when there is a need to reveal a skeletal or a pathologic anatomy of the palate (roof of mouth) or the floor of the mouth. The occlusal film, which is three or four times bigger than those used for the views stated above, is inserted into the mouth to separate the top and bottom teeth and film is exposed from under the chin or on top of the nose.
The final type of x-rays is known as a full mouth series. It is a set of intra-oral x-rays taken of a patient’s teeth and hard tissue. Full mouth series is usually abbreviated as FMS or FMX. The full mouth series comprises of 18 images:
- Four bitewings
- Two molar bitewings (left and right)
- Two premolar bitewings (left and right)
- Eight posterior periapicals
- Two maxillary molar periapicals (left and right)
- Two maxillary premolar periapicals (left and right)
- Two mandibular molar periapicals (left and right)
- Two mandibular premolar periapicals (left and right)
- Six anterior periapicals
- Two maxillary canine-lateral incisor periapicals (left and right)
- Two mandibular canine-lateral incisor periapicals (left and right)