What Problems Can Dental X-Rays Detect?
In adults, dental X-rays can be used to: • Show areas of decay that may not be visible with an oral exam, especially small areas of decay between teeth • Identify decay occurring beneath an existing filling • Reveal bone loss that accompanies gum disease • Reveal changes in the bone or in the root canal resulting from infection • Assist in the preparation of tooth implants, braces, dentures, or other dental procedures • Reveal abscesses (an infection at the root of a tooth or between the gum and a tooth) • Reveal other developmental abnormalities, such as cysts and some types of tumors In children, dental X-rays are used to: • Watch for decay • Determine if there is enough space in the mouth to fit all incoming teeth • Determine if primary teeth are being lost quickly enough to allow permanent teeth to erupt properly • Check for the development of wisdom teeth and identify if the teeth are impacted (unable to emerge through the gums)
