How Often Do I Need Dental X-Rays?
May 01, 2024
When they were discovered, X-rays revolutionized dental medicine, allowing dentists to view everything from caries too small for the naked eye to see to the structure of the jaw and any abnormalities therein. Now, they’re a staple of dental practice, no matter the specific technology used for delivery.
At Llanos Dental Group in Miami Lakes, Florida, Dr. Laura Llanos and her team use X-rays for most procedures, even routine cleanings. They help to visualize the hard tissues of the mouth and jaw and determine if anything’s amiss. You won’t need X-rays every time you go to the dentist; how often you get them depends on a number of factors. Here’s what’s involved.
As researchers experimented with vacuum tubes to create images of objects over 100 years ago, it led to Wilhelm Konrad Röntgen’s momentous discovery in 1895 of unknown “rays,” which he called X-rays. These went on to play an essential role in medicine, helping doctors visualize the structures of the human body, especially important in orthopedics, and in dentistry.
X-rays simplified dental diagnoses by highlighting both minor and major issues. These ranged from dental caries to issues in periodontics, orthodontics, endodontics, and maxillofacial surgery. The first dental radiograph appeared in early 1896, and in its wake, dentists from countries around the world competed to record their dental images with various techniques.
Different types of dental X-rays record slightly different views of your mouth. The most common are intraoral (inside the mouth) X-rays, like:
While X-rays used to be taken with photographic film and developed in a lab, today’s technology uses a pen-like device to digitally record everything in your mouth and upload it to the dentist’s computer.
The dentist uses extraoral (out of the mouth) X-rays if they suspect there might be problems located outside of the gums and teeth, like the jaw.
Most people with healthy teeth and gums get dental X-rays every 6-18 months, though that may vary depending on your age, health, and insurance coverage. It also depends on whether you have gum disease, recurring decay, or other oral health issues, in which case you may need them taken more frequently. Ask your dentist what they recommend in your particular case.
If it’s been awhile since you’ve had a dental cleaning and X-rays, it’s time to contact Llanos Dental Group to schedule an appointment. Call us at 305-556-0528, text us at 305-707-7021, or book online with us today.