Digital X-Rays
At Rice Dental Arts, your safety and comfort are our top priority. We want to find the right balance between supporting good oral health and ensuring that you are comfortable with the process. One way in which we support this goal is by offering digital X-rays for our dental services. Using less radiation and getting processed more quickly, digital X-rays give our dentists in Bristol, TN, a closer look at your teeth and gum health, so we can help you make informed decisions about your oral health.
How Do Digital X-Rays Work?
TO the patient, digital X-rays will seem similar to traditional film-based X-rays. You will hold a small device in your mouth, and our technician will place the X-ray machine near your cheek, step out of the room, and capture the image. A small amount of radiation passes through your soft tissue, capturing images of the teeth and bones inside your mouth. However, with digital technology, these images are captured by digital sensors held inside the mouth, and then they are sent to a computer for nearly instant results.
Benefits of Digital Dental X-rays
There are many reasons why digital dental X-rays are a good choice for your dental care. The primary benefit is the fact that they use between 80 and 90% less radiation compared to film-based X-rays. This means they are safer for our patients. We also still use a lead apron to add additional protection, just to give you peace of mind during the procedure.
Another benefit is the ability to see inside the mouth. This is a benefit of both types of X-ray, but it is important to our dental care. Without X-rays, your dentist can’t see the start of cavities or the root causes of your gum disease or other mouth pain.
Finally, digital X-rays provide faster results. Your dentist can see the images within minutes of having them taken. There is no need to wait a long time to have the film developed and read.
What Can Digital X-Rays See?
X-rays are one of the top tools dentists use to help their patients. They can see a wide range of problems within the mouth. Some of the most common include:
- Tooth decay, or cavities
- Fillings and any decay near them
- Jaw bone loss
- Impacted or unerupted teeth and their positions
- Infections
- Abscesses
- Tumors and cysts
These diagnostic tools allow your dentist to determine what treatment will best help with your oral health concerns.
X-Rays as a Treatment Planning Tool
In addition to using X-rays to spot problems, your dentist can use them to help plan certain dental treatments. Specifically, if you’re considering dental implants or dentures, X-rays can help your dentist determine if you’re a good candidate and, if you are, where to position these items in the mouth to support your bite well. They can also help dentists check on the success of treatments like root canals or dental bone grafts.
Schedule Dental X-Rays with Rice Dental Arts Today
At Rice Dental Arts, we recommend having dental X-rays at least once a year. If you have a specific concern or health risk, that should be increased to once every six months. Make sure you keep up with your regular X-rays to give us the best look at your oral health. If it’s time to schedule your X-ray appointment, reach out to our team today.
