Why Does the Dentist Take X-Rays?

dentist x-rays

I’ve been told I need X-rays at the dental office, but I refused them. Why do they need X-rays, anyway?

X-rays are an important part of diagnosing problems in your mouth because they can show problems the dentist can’t see. There are many conditions that can be seen on an X-ray before they can be seen in the mouth, including decay, silent abscesses, bone loss and some tumors.

An X-ray allows the dentist to see decay in between the teeth, so that cavities can be prevented or caught before they get very large. X-rays can also pick up inflammation around the tooth root, which can signal a silent abscess. This allows the dentist to treat the problem before it hurts, does more damage or makes you sick.

X-rays can also catch root re-sorption, which is when a tooth gets a hole in the root. The earlier it is caught, the re-sorption process can be stopped and reduce the risk of losing the tooth.

Discuss with your dentist whether the timing can be extended in some low-risk cases. Being able to diagnosis and treat these conditions early on would obviously be an advantage, so it’s important to stay on schedule with X-rays.

About the author

Stacey Sparkman Hall, D.D.S.

Dr. Stacey Hall brings her unique outlook on dental care and her personable optimism to the Williamsburg Center for Dental Health. With nine years of solid dental expertise as a dentist in Williamsburg, she decided in early 2011 to branch out and open her own local practice. After completing her undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech in 1998, Dr. Hall graduated from VCU’s MCV School of Dentistry in 2002, receiving her D.D.S. She is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and was awarded member fellowship to the International Congress of Oral Implantology in 2008. She leads the elite Tidewater Dawson Study Club and is a scholar with the interntaionally renowned Dawson Academy. As a Dawson ambassador, Dr. Hall also assists in the training of students in the Dawson Academy. Stacey and her husband Michael have been blessed with three beautiful girls, Lanie, Gracie and Abbie. She is a loyal Virginia Tech Football fan, and enjoys Bible study and missions work.