Dental X Ray in Woodbridge

Dental X-rays give dentists valuable information that can’t be seen with a visual exam. These new imaging methods show cavities, bone loss, infections and other problems that form beneath the surface of teeth and gums. We use the latest digital radiography systems at Dentistry on the Pines. These systems produce high quality images while minimizing our patients’ radiation exposure.

Digital X-ray technology is a lot better than the old film-based systems. Digital sensors take pictures immediately, so no need for chemical processing which saves time. They require up to 90% less radiation than regular X-rays and produce better, more detailed images for the doctor to diagnose. You can also improve, enlarge and share digital images electronically for consultation purposes.

Different types of dental X-rays are used for different diagnostic purposes and show mouth anatomy from different angles. Bitewing X-rays show the crowns of both upper and lower teeth at the same time. This is great for finding cavities between teeth and monitoring bone levels around teeth. Periapical X-rays show the whole tooth from the crown to the root tip. They can show infections, cysts or other issues around the roots of the teeth.

A single panoramic X-ray can show all the teeth, jawbones and structures around them. These wide angle X-rays can find teeth that are stuck, jaw problems, tumors and other issues that affect large areas of the mouth and jaw. The panoramic method is especially helpful in making treatment plans and checking the overall health of the mouth.

How often you need dental X-rays depends on your age, risk factors and oral health. Most adults with normal oral health only need bitewing X-rays every 12 to 24 months. However, people with active dental disease may need them more often. Children and teens need X-rays more often since their teeth are still growing and they are more prone to cavities.

Safety rules ensure that those who get dental X-rays don’t get too much radiation. To prevent patients from getting too much radiation, we use lead aprons and thyroid collars. Digital sensors use less radiation than film and we only do X-rays when a patient needs them, not on a regular schedule.

Dental X-rays may do more than just find cavities. These pictures show bone loss from gum disease which helps dentists check the condition of the gums and plan the right treatment. X-rays also show where children’s teeth are growing which allows us to fix orthodontic problems early on.

Radiographic diagnosis is a big part of General Dentistry since it provides complete oral health treatment. Regular X-rays allow dentists to monitor work that has already been done, find new problems early and make treatment plans based on accurate diagnostic information. This preventive approach stops small problems from becoming big ones that need a lot of care.

When you need dental X-rays, you need to pay extra attention to your pregnancy. Digital X-rays today are very safe but we usually wait until after delivery to do routine X-rays unless there is an urgent need to diagnose something. When X-rays are necessary during pregnancy we take extra steps to protect the growing baby as much as possible.

Most dental insurance plans cover the X-rays needed for normal dental care. Most dental insurance policies pay for bitewing X-rays once a year and full-mouth series every three to five years. We work with insurance companies to make sure medically necessary radiography procedures are covered.

Patients don’t have to do much to get ready for dental X-rays. We put comfortable sensors in your mouth and give you bite blocks to make sure everything is lined up correctly. The X-ray technique takes just a few seconds for each picture and patients don’t feel any pain during the process. Our skilled technicians make sure the images are positioned perfectly so they are clear and useful for diagnosis.

Storing and retrieving digital X-ray images is good for patient care in the long run. Storing films electronically eliminates the chance of losing them and allows you to quickly look at old pictures for comparison. This digital archive keeps track of changes in oral health over time and provides useful information for treatment planning.

Quality assurance processes ensure radiographic images are always of high quality. To keep our diagnostic abilities at their best we periodically calibrate our equipment and check the quality of the images. Our staff get regular training on how to position patients correctly and how to keep them safe from radiation.

X-rays are usually needed to make sure all of the cavity is removed and the filling is in the right spot. Before treatment X-rays help dentists determine how bad the decay is. After treatment X-rays show that the treatment was successful.

In emergencies X-rays are often needed right away to figure out what’s causing oral pain or injuries. Our Woodbridge office can do emergency X-rays to diagnose urgent dental concerns that come up outside of regular business hours.

Standard X-rays can’t meet all of your diagnostic needs but specialized imaging techniques can. Cone beam computed tomography gives 3D pictures that help plan complex treatments while bite-wing series monitor the health of the gums over time.

Educating patients about their X-ray results helps them understand how healthy their mouths are and make informed decisions about their treatment. We take the time to explain what the X-rays show and answer questions about the treatments we recommend based on the evidence.

Call Dentistry on the Pines today to learn more about our digital X-ray technology and schedule your full dental exam in Woodbridge. We promise to use the latest diagnostic tools to make sure every patient gets the right diagnosis and the best possible treatment.