Different Types of Dental X-rays
If you’ve ever visited a dental office before, chances are you understand a bit about dental x-rays. Dentists use dental X-rays as a device to assist them in spotting possible dental health issues. X-rays are a form of a light wavelength that goes over soft oral tissues such as gums and cheeks however, it gets absorbed by solid tissues like the bones and teeth, thus letting them be seen on an X-ray image. With X-rays, oral surveys can now be performed without the need for direct visual examination, therefore making the process convenient and comfortable for the patient.
However, did you know there are different types of dental x-rays? You may have seen one during your regular visits to the dentist, but the chances are that you haven’t seen them all. Different types of X-rays have different uses.
Here are the various types of dental x-rays:
There are two main categories of dental x-rays:
1 . Intraoral X-rays
These are the most commonly used dental X-rays since they give a detailed view of the teeth and bones. This allows the dentist to identify cavities easily, monitor the status of developing teeth, check the health of the jaw bone, and monitor the overall health of your mouth.
There are several types of intraoral X-rays, and each of them displays diverse parts of the teeth.
-
Bitewings
Bitewings are the popularly used intraoral x-ray, which helps in identifying periodontal issues, and tooth decay, and tracking the development of teeth. In this category of x-ray, a film is positioned on the side of your mouth and four bitewings are used to take an image of all the teeth.
-
Periapical
This type of x-ray shows the whole teeth from the top to the bottom root. These X-rays are used to spot any anomalies in the surrounding bone and root structure.
-
Occlusal
The occlusal X-rays are much bigger than most X-rays. They are used to monitor tooth development and positioning in children. Each image shows almost the full arch of the mouth.
2. Extra-oral X-rays
Extraoral X-rays are used to identify oral issues in the jaw and skull. There are quite a few types of extraoral x-rays that can be used:
-
Panoramic
These X-rays show all the parts of the mouth on a sole X-ray. The X-ray can see impacted and overcrowded teeth and help in finding tumors.
-
Tomographs
This x-ray shows a specific part of the mouth while blurring out all the other areas. It is convenient for scrutinizing oral structures that are hard to see clearly.
-
Sialography
This x-ray involves visualization of the salivary glands. The dentist uses this type of x-ray to examine for salivary gland complications.
-
Cephalometric Projections
These X-rays show an entire side of the skull. Dentists use this type of x-ray to plan for their treatments.
-
Computed Tomography
This is a type of X-ray that shows the inner structures of the mouth in three dimensions. It is used to spot issues in the facial bones, such as cysts and tumors.
Bottom Line
Making sure you are updated on your dental X-rays is one of our many jobs at Springvale Dental Clinic. As you’ve seen, each type of x-ray is important to us as we require them to detect oral problems that can result in infections, if left untreated. Our dental staff is experienced and trained to know when to take what type of x-ray and how often each is needed based on your oral health.
If you have any queries about different types of dental x-rays or are you are planning on getting one, contact or visit us today at Springvale Dental Clinic.
