Dental radiography (X-Rays)

Visiting the dentist regularly is one of the healthy habits most of us try to maintain. However, it is possible for the dentist to suspect some problems that are hardly visible at a simple consultation. Dental X-rays are the starting point towards finding a solution, and the types of X-rays fit a wide range of symptoms.

• General information about dental radiography;
• The role and necessity of dental X-rays;
• Types of dental radiography;
• How safe are dental X-rays?

The dental radiography is an absolutely necessary step for the dentist in establishing an accurate diagnosis, as it reveals details that can determine the nature of an intervention on the dentition and even an entire treatment plan. A dental radiograph is a flat image of the teeth, jaws, bones and soft tissues, as a result of exposure to X-rays or a digital scan.

The role of dental radiography is twofold. On the one hand, it is the answer to the questions that dentists begin to ask when a simple consultation does not fully reveal the patient's dental problems. With no obvious signs in the teeth or gums, the dentist cannot draw a conclusion solely on the basis of patients' complaints of discomfort or pain that have brought them into the office.

X-rays, on the other hand, are the largest preventive factor, as conditions can be detected early and appropriate treatment can be applied. The dentist needs the most accurate X-ray possible to detect tooth decay or other invisible structures on the surface of the teeth, early wisdom teeth, bone loss or any other condition that cannot be seen with the naked eye.

As dental conditions are not all the same, the type of X-ray cannot be universal either. Based on the symptoms you experience at your consultation, the doctor will advise to have you take one of the types of X-rays described below.

Classical dental X-rays and digital dental X-rays

Today's radiology allows the equipment used in specialized dental surgeries to only emit a negligible amount of radiation, so that it can be used even in the case of a pregnant woman. Even so, digital radiography is increasingly becoming the standard. A study published by the NIH, the US government's medical research agency, shows that 90% of dentists in Belgium use digital imaging.

The latest X-rays can also be viewed on a computer monitor and even magnified for a more detailed and accurate analysis. For the patient, the biggest advantage of digital X-rays is that the whole operation takes no more than five minutes. Technology is making great strides forward, so bringing dentistry in line with the latest trends is both a logical consequence and a natural necessity.

Retroalveolar dental X-ray

Being the most accessible of the dental investigation methods that may be recommended to you, retroalveolar radiography highlights the tooth in all its dimensions. This shows the crown, the root and even the bone in which it is embedded. To take this X-ray, the specialist will place the X-ray sensor right in the patient's mouth, using a sterile plastic holder.

In a few seconds of standing still, the patient gets the radiological image printed on the film so that the dentist can make the initial assessment necessary for the treatment plan. The retroalveolar radiograph will include up to three teeth directly adjacent to the targeted tooth in the mandible or maxilla.

The usefulness of the X-ray does not end with the treatment, because your dentist can also use it for the check-ups you will have after the intervention, at three or six-month intervals respectively.

Panoramic dental X-ray

If the condition of your teeth is not necessarily critical and your dentist needs an overview, he or she may request a panoramic X-ray. This covers both dental arches as well as the maxillary sinuses or mandibular canals. The procedure involves fitting the patient with a lead coverall and sitting next to the machine.

This will allow the device to rotate around your head without exposing you unnecessarily to radiation aimed at vital organs. After the 20 seconds, during which the machine operator will ask you to remain still so that your movements do not disturb the action of the machine, the X-ray image is generated. It can be printed on film and even saved on your computer.

Occlusal dental X-ray

This type of dental radiography is characterized by a greater amplitude than all the others. Occlusal X-rays cover the entire dental arch along with the upper jaw and mandible. The usefulness of this X-ray is to detect overgrown teeth, teeth that have not yet erupted, but also bone fractures or foreign objects if the patient comes to the dentist following a trauma. Occlusal radiography also identifies the presence of cysts or deep abscesses.

Dental bite-wing X-ray

Similar to retroalveolar radiography, bite-wing radiography is an exposure with intraoral recording. The particularity of this type of dental radiography comes from the requirement that the patient clamps his or her teeth on a device containing a small X-ray film. In this way, the dental crowns of the posterior teeth of the upper and lower jaw can be visible on the same X-ray and the teeth are shown without overlapping. The need for a bite-wing radiograph is also necessary if dental caries is detected in the contact area of the teeth and under the fillings. Furthermore, bite-wing radiography also reveals caries located only in the tooth enamel.

Contrary to popular belief, dental X-rays do not affect the body as much as other types of X-rays do. During an exposure for a conventional dental X-ray, the patient absorbs 5 microsieverts of radiation, and during a digital X-ray, only one - a negligible amount with no noticeable long-term health effects.

By comparison, the average daily dose of cosmic radiation through the planet's atmosphere that each of us absorbs is between 5 and 8 microsieverts. Modern technology has developed to the point where even conventional X-rays are up to 80% less harmful today than in the past. The fear of radiation is therefore not an obstacle to regular dental prophylaxis, which you have every reason to conscientiously undertake.

Although the decision on the type of dental X-ray is ultimately a matter for the dentist, a good knowledge of the types of exposure and their implications can give patients realistic expectations of dental treatment.