Why are current dental X-rays needed by the dentist?
X-rays are an important aid to diagnosis. The benefit of a current or up to date full mouth set of X-rays is that they let a dentist see things that the dentist cannot see with his eyes, whether the dentist is wearing magnification glasses or not. Examples include the beginning of decay in between the teeth and the bone levels or the degree of bone loss in between the teeth. Another benefit is that, if available, similar views of X-rays at different time periods can be compared to gain an idea of the history or pattern of stability, healing or rate of disease progression in a person’s mouth. A dentist needs “current” X-rays, which means views that show all the teeth and in between the teeth that are taken at the time of initial examination or were taken within 1 to 2 years of the date of initial examination, if they were taken at another office. Different types of X-rays are needed for different purposes. Conditions in the mouth change over time. That is why X-rays need to be current a
