Dentist Methuen Are Dental X-Rays Necessary?

Methuen MA Dentist Shares the Importance of Dental X-Rays

During your routine visits to our office, our Methuen MA dentist typically has x-rays taken to examine what can't be seen with the naked eye. The process is quick and painless, but have you ever wondered why they're so important and necessary?
 
Dental x-rays communicate a ton of information to Dr. Sandler, who knows exactly what he's looking for in order to find a solution and improve your smile.
 
More Than Teeth
A dental x-ray examines the teeth, soft tissues (gums), and bones to give us a full picture. Dr. Sandler looks at the x-rays and pin point where a single tooth is creating a problem for the entire mouth! Additionally, it is impossible to see some cavities forming with the naked eye, and the x-ray tell us when a cavity is forming in an impossible to see place – such as between teeth. 
 
Dental x-ray and imaging also show spots of cancer or tumors in the mouth that are also not visible to the eye. It is highly valuable to get your x-rays done once a year for this reason alone – ensuring that any cancer forming cells are caught early on. 
 
About the Teeth
Some of the major reasons that Dr. Sandler needs to perform an x-ray on your teeth include looking for: 
 
- Difficult to find or see cavities 
- Tooth decay
- Bone loss
- Oral cancer
- Impacted wisdom teeth 
- Root infection
 
Ultimately, anything that is going on inside a tooth or inside the gums (soft tissues) will be quickly and accurately registered on a dental x-ray. It helps with early intervention and treatment. 
 
Are X-Rays Safe? 
Some worry about x-rays because of the radiation put off by the equipment during the process of an x-ray being taken. However, in most cases, the equipment is designed to produce as little as radiation necessary to get the image. 
 
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends wearing a leaded apron for your protection and minimize radiation exposure – which is the heavy cloth you may be accustomed to having draped over you. If you are still concerned, be sure to ask our Methuen MA dentist if there is anything else you can do to minimize your exposure to radiation during x-rays. 
 
Call our office at (978) 683-3343 to schedule your appointment and feel free to address any and all concerns that we have. We're here to bring you the most comfort possible during your visit to our practice.