Digital X-Rays

Preventive care and early treatment are better for your oral health, your happiness, and your wallet. At Elite Dental, we utilize digital X-rays and other state-of-the-art dental technology to detect problems as soon as possible. Digital X-rays are faster, safer, and more accurate than dental X-rays of the past. If you would like to learn more about the benefits of digital radiography in American Fork, Utah, contact our dentists, Drs. Steven and Randy, at Elite Dental today.

Dental x-rays have come a long way as far as technological advancements. Using digital x-rays allows us to view the image of your mouth on-screen. We can then adjust, enlarge and magnify the images. This makes finding dental issues below the gum line much easier, allowing for an accurate diagnosis. There is no wait time since these are digital images, compared to film that has to be developed.

Why Do I Need Digital Dental X-rays?

During a regular exam and cleaning, we can only see your teeth above the gum line. The roots of your teeth and your jawbone cannot be seen with the naked eye. These hidden areas come through clearly with an x-ray. This allows us to catch cavities and signs of gum disease in their very early stages. This means less intrusive and extensive dental work in the future. Digital x-rays also allow us to determine the most suitable form of treatment. If you do have a tooth infection, we can identify the extent of the infection and see how far and how much of your tooth it is affecting. We can also see the results of a root canal procedure and find out if all of the decay was completely removed. We also use these x-rays to keep an eye on teeth that have not yet emerged above the gum line. Most commonly, we look at wisdom teeth and how they are impacting your existing teeth. Digital x-rays are also a safe and invaluable way to take care of your child’s developing jaw and teeth.

When Will I Need Digital X-Rays?

Scheduled x-rays depend on the state of your oral health and your age. If we are monitoring something like periodontal disease progression, you will need x-rays more often. If you have healthy teeth, you will most likely only have these done once a year. For children, we take x-rays more often because their jaws and teeth develop and change very quickly. If you have any issues with your teeth, like soreness, injury, or damage, we will give you an x-ray when you come in. Overall, it is important to know that taking a digital x-ray does not take long, is completely safe, and is absolutely pain free. It is one of the most valuable tools we have at our disposal.

Different Types of Digital X-Rays

We use both intraoral and extraoral x-rays. This means we can take them from the inside of your mouth and the outside of your mouth. Intraoral x-rays are the most beneficial because they allow us to see the condition of your mouth and teeth in great detail.

Intraoral x-rays include:

Bite-wing X-Rays – This is where you have to bite down on a sensor for a few seconds so that we can take a digital picture of a specific part of your mouth. We use this to detect decay between your teeth and to see what the condition of the bone around your teeth is in. If you need a crown or filling, this x-ray allows us to assess the integrity of your jawbone for the procedure.

Periapical X-Rays: This allows us to see your entire tooth, starting from the crown to the very tip of the root. We can also examine the surrounding bone structure. We use it to check for dental abscesses and when treating bone loss around a tooth. If you have been diagnosed with gum disease, this type of x-ray lets us track its progression and treat it accordingly.

Extraoral x-rays include:

Panoramic X-Rays: This is taken while you are seated in a chair and the x-ray machine rotates around your head. This results in a detailed image of all of your teeth, including your upper and lower arch. We use this for keeping track of how wisdom teeth are impacting other teeth as they grow in. We also use it to diagnose jaw problems and to plan treatments for producers like dental implants.

At Elite Dental, the digital x-rays we use are completely safe. Exposure to radiation is extremely low. We minimize exposure even more by using protective lead aprons and thyroid collars. It is even safe to use on pregnant women, who may need to have their teeth checked during their pregnancy due to higher infection risks. We use digital x-rays to care for your oral health because it is a proven tool in preventing and treating infections and gum disease. They only take minutes to perform and are an easy addition to your regular cleaning appointments.