The Importance Of Dental X-rays

When Dr. Hanif Asaria performs an evaluation, it is done to look for signs of decay or periodontal disease. A lot can be physically seen with the naked eye. However, not everything. X-rays would help the doctor diagnose conditions and determine the source of a problem, such as a toothache. Dental X-rays are perfect for allowing the dentist to see problems underneath the gum line, including issues with the teeth and the jawbone. It may indicate an impacted tooth, such as a wisdom tooth, that needs to be removed or show decay occurring inside a tooth and is not visible to the dentist. Dental X-rays allow the dentist to perform thorough evaluations and ensure that problems are caught early enough for successful interventions.

Most patients will not have X-rays done at each visit to our office twice a year. X-rays are more commonly done if patients complain about a specific issue, allowing our dental team to diagnose the problem and find the source of the pain and discomfort. Alternatively, when we see a patient for the very first time in our practice, we perform X-rays to have a good idea of where patients are in their dental health journey. They may be done routinely if patients have conditions that need monitoring, such as periodontal disease, or to prepare for treatments where the bone must be assessed before performing any necessary work. We commonly complete bitewing X-rays to be able to see in between teeth. X-rays are incredibly helpful to our dental staff for a variety of reasons.