What is the purpose of Dental X-rays?

Have you ever wondered why you need to have x-rays taken at your continuous care visits? At Glacier Dental we pride ourselves in making sure you receive the best care possible and we could not do it without the help from routine x-rays. There are several  types that allow us to see the tooth and jaw differently. 

• Bitewing x-rays: These are the x-rays where you have to bite down on the x-ray film while the photo is being taken. Bitewings are taken so that we can see decay in-between your teeth – a tricky area we can’t see with the naked eye . Typically 4 bitewing x-rays are taken in order to see all 4 quadrants of your mouth.

At Glacier Dental we recommend taking bitewing x-rays once a year to ensure the most accurate diagnosis . If you have dental insurance it is likely that your insurance will cover these annually. Take a look at what this bitewing x-ray looks like and notice how you can see between each tooth.

• Panoramic X-ray: The Panoramic X-ray is another common image that allows us to see the entire mouth. This type of image shows the presence of wisdom teeth, abscesses, tumors, and cysts that otherwise could not be seen  Panoramic x-rays are also critical for implant and  orthodontic treatment to evaluate the health of the roots, bones, and permanent teeth development.
  

Typically we recommend a panorex every 3-5 years, depending on the patient.

• Periapical X-ray: More commonly known as PA’s these dental x-rays focus on 1-2 teeth up close. If you are experiencing a toothache or if there is a suspicious looking area on one of your teeth, we would take a PA to get a better idea of what is going on. With these x-rays we are also able to see the root structure of the tooth.
  

We also recommend having periapical x-rays taken once a year when your 4 bitewing x-rays are taken.

 Each type of dental x-ray that we take serves a very different purpose. It is important for us to have all the information we need in order to properly take care of your dental health.