The Importance of Regular Dental X-Rays

Sokoly Dental Blog The Importance of Regular Dental X-Rays

Dental X-rays are an essential part of routine dental checkups. They provide your dentist with critical information about your oral health that can't be detected through a regular examination. 

At Sokoly Dental in Washington, DC, Dr. Thomas D. Sokoly wants you to understand the importance of getting dental X-rays regularly. Here he explains how he uses this diagnostic tool to help manage dental concerns before they become significant problems.

Understanding dental X-rays

Dental X-rays are images of your mouth taken by one of our dental professionals that allow Dr. Sokoly to see your jawbone, inside your teeth, and under your gums. 

The X-rays help detect problems that may not be visible to the naked eye, providing a more comprehensive picture of your oral health. Dr. Sokoly can identify and diagnose dental problems early before they become more severe and more challenging and costly to treat.

What dental X-rays can tell your dentist

Dental X-rays can reveal a lot about your oral health. This includes:

Cavities

X-rays help detect cavities that may not be visible during a regular examination. This is important because early detection can prevent the need for more extensive treatments down the road.

Gum disease

X-rays expose the extent of gum disease and help Dr. Sokoly determine the appropriate treatment.

Impacted teeth

X-rays reveal whether your teeth are growing correctly or if they're impacted. Impacted teeth can lead to infections and other oral health problems.

Oral cancer

X-rays can show abnormal growths or lesions that may indicate oral cancer.

How often should you have dental X-rays?

The frequency of your dental X-rays depends on several factors, including:

Children whose teeth are still developing may need X-rays more often to monitor the growth and development of their teeth.

General guidelines from The American Dental Association recommend that adults have a full-mouth series of X-rays every 3-5 years and bitewing X-rays every 1-2 years. 

Children should have a full-mouth series of X-rays every 1-2 years and bitewing X-rays every 6-12 months.

If you're overdue for a bi-annual dental exam and cleaning, don't put it off any longer. Contact us at Sokoly Dental today.

 

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