Archive:
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2012
- 2011
Tags
- mouthguard (2)
- oral health (24)
- celebrity smiles (78)
- dental injuries (4)
- cosmetic dentistry (17)
- wedding day smiles (2)
- smile makeover (5)
- sealants (1)
- pediatric dentistry (7)
- fluoride (3)
- retainer (3)
- braces (11)
- bridge (2)
- dental implant (3)
- crowns (7)
- veneers (2)
- sedation dentistry (2)
- oral sedation (2)
- sleep apnea (4)
- tooth pain (3)
- sensitive teeth (2)
- orthodontic treatment (7)
- dental hygiene (2)
- common symptoms (1)
- tooth decay (11)
- gap (1)
- orthodontics (6)
- missing tooth (1)
- replacing teeth (1)
- crown (2)
- teeth whitening (5)
- toothache (1)
- impacted wisdom teeth (1)
- wisdom teeth (5)
- pregnancy (2)
- nightguard (1)
- grinding teeth (1)
- mouthguards (4)
- porcelain veneers (2)
- denture (1)
- oral cancer (5)
- root canal (2)
- oral hygiene (17)
- herbal remedy (1)
- dental implants (17)
- nutrition (4)
- jaw pain (3)
- tmj (2)
- tmd (2)
- clear aligners (2)
- clear orthodontic aligners (1)
- invisalign (1)
- chipped teeth (2)
- bonding (2)
- chipped tooth (4)
- floss (1)
- eating disorders (1)
- cracked tooth (1)
- gum disease (5)
- bleeding gums (1)
- dental anxiety (1)
- athletic mouthguards (2)
- diabetes (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- tooth replacement (1)
- missing teeth (1)
- bone grafting (2)
- saliva (1)
- tooth grinding (1)
- smoking (2)
- bad breath (1)
- x-rays (3)
- tmj disorders (1)
- pediatric care (1)
- snoring (3)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- antibiotics (1)
- retainers (1)
- geographic tongue (1)
- local anesthesia (1)
- dental injury (6)
- oral appliance (1)
- thumb sucking (1)
- removable partial denture (2)
- dental emergency (2)
- dental visits (1)
- dental care (1)
- blood pressure (1)
- cold sore (1)
- smile design (1)
- teeth grinding (2)
- bruxism (1)
- insurance (1)
- partial denture (1)
- cancer (1)
- bulimia (1)
- marijuana (1)
- oral-health (1)
- x-ray (1)
- extraction (1)
- dentures (1)
- artificial sweeteners (1)
Categories:

Leavitt & Scher Dental Group
5867 Mayfield Rd
Mayfield Heights, OH 44124
440-442-3262
My Blog
Posts for tag: x-ray

Modern dental care wouldn’t be the same without x-rays. Since dentists began capturing x-ray images a century ago to detect beginning tooth decay, billions of teeth have been preserved.
“Catching it early” is the key to staying ahead of this aggressive bacterial infection. Once it breaks through the protective defenses of tooth enamel, it can advance toward the center of the tooth, the pulp, damaging dentin as it goes. While we can effectively stop it at this point with a root canal treatment, it’s better for the tooth’s long-term health to detect and treat any decay early on with a less-invasive filling or other treatment method.
X-ray imaging helps make that possible, revealing decay much easier than we can see with the unaided eye. And while we can often detect decay in front teeth by visual examination or by using very bright lighting, that’s not as easy with the less accessible back teeth. For those teeth we use a special x-ray technique known as the bitewing.
The name comes from the small frame used to hold the film. It’s held in place in the mouth by the patient biting down on small tabs or “wings” extending from the frame. The x-ray beam travels through the outer cheek and teeth to the film being held in the frame on the back side of the teeth. When exposed, we’ll be able to view the interior of these back teeth: a set of four bitewings gives us a full view of all the upper and lower molars and pre-molars on each side of the jaws.
Like other forms of radiation energy, too much or too frequent exposures to x-rays can lead to serious health problems. But bitewing x-rays carry little risk to health. That’s because they fit well with the ALARA principle, meaning “As Low As Reasonably Achievable,” which helps guide our use of x-rays. Patients receive a fraction of the radiation exposure from routine bitewing x-rays than they receive annually from the natural environment.
Without bitewing x-rays and other diagnostic methods, the chances are high that tooth decay or other dental problems can go undetected in their early stages. Using this important tool can help us head off major damage before it occurs.
If you would like more information on the role of x-rays in dental care, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Bitewing X-Rays: A Routine Part of Your Dental Exam.”