Why do dentists take x-rays so often?
A. Only about 30% of any of your teeth is visible above the gum. X-rays allow dentists to see the other 70% of your teeth, and also to see into the sinus, around the jaw joint, and through the lower jaw. They also allow dentists to diagnose dental infection, bone loss and developmental problems, many of which don’t hurt or otherwise let you know they are there. Today’s dental x-rays can be made with very little radiation, in fact, you would get more radiation from an hour at the beach than you would from one of our small pictures taken in the dental office.
