subject: Understanding Dental X-rays And Their Purpose In Your Dental Health Care [print this page] Even some of the most basic of dental technology is proven to be vital in the diagnosis and treatment of dental health complications. With dental x-rays your dentist in Houston is able to see more than the naked eye can see. Dental x-rays provide valuable information that helps your dentist to properly evaluate your oral health. With x-rays, your dentist can look at what is happening beneath the surface of your teeth and gums.
Physicist Wilhelm Roentgen who was intrigued by flowing cathode tubes invented dental x-rays in 1895. From this he decided to see what they could do. He later found that the rays these cathode tubes emitted could pass through certain solid objects, leaving a shadowy image of that object on a fluorescent screen. Roentgen was even more amazed when he found that when the rays passed through body parts, such as his hand, the bones beneath the skin became clearly visible on the screen. Because Wilhelm Roentgen did not know what to call this, he labeled the rays "X," which is the mathematical symbol for something that is unknown.
X-rays pass through your mouth, and are absorbed by teeth and bone because these tissues, which are called hard tissues, are denser than cheeks and gums (soft tissues). When x-rays strike the film or a digital sensor, an image called a radiograph is created. Radiographs allow your dentist to see hidden abnormalities, like tooth decay, infections and signs of gum disease, including changes in the bone and ligaments holding your teeth in place.
When are X-Rays Needed?
X-rays are one of the most valuable tools a dentist has for keeping your mouth and teeth healthy. By understanding what the structures of the mouth look like normally on an x-ray film, your dentist can properly diagnose problems in the teeth and jaws. For adults, x-rays can be used to:
*Show areas of decay your dentist may not be able to see with just a visual exam
*Find decay that is developing underneath an existing filling
*Find cracks or other damage in an existing filling
*Alert the dentist to possible bone loss associated with gum disease
*Reveal problems in the root canal
*Reveal other abnormalities such as cysts, and cancer
How often your dentists requires you to get x-rays depends on your present oral health, your age, your risk for disease, and any signs and symptoms of oral disease you may be experiencing. For instance, children may need more x-rays than adults because their teeth and jaws are still developing. Their teeth are also more likely to be affected by tooth decay than those of adults. Additionally, if you are a new patient, your dentist in Houston may recommend x-rays to determine the present status of your oral health and to help identify changes that may occur later. A new set of x-rays may be needed to help your dentist detect any new cavities, determine the status of your gum health or evaluate the growth and development of your teeth.
Talk to your Houston dentist to learn more about x-rays and to find out how often you are required to have x-rays taken for optimal oral health care.
