![]() Think of a doctor’s appointment: you expect your doctor to take your blood pressure, listen to your heart, and process your blood work – you would be appalled if your doctor simply looked at you without using any of these diagnostic tools. X-rays after periodontal treatment help dental professionals check that all of the deposits have been removed from the pockets and allow them to monitor the bone level to ensure changes are addressed quickly for the best results.ĭentists utilize several diagnostic methods when assessing patient needs. If there is a lot of space under the gum, it is called a “pocket”. An x-ray can show the calculus that needs to be removed so the bone and gum can be free from disease. Dentists and hygienists use a periodontal probe to measure how far under the gum the bone is. X-rays can show the bone level, as well as heavy calculus (tartar) that is stuck to the teeth. Follow-up x-rays show the healing that takes place after treatment has been completed.ĭental x-rays are also useful in determining the extent of periodontal disease. Sometimes x-rays are taken during the root canal treatment so the dentist can see if the full nerve canal has been accessed. An x-ray can confirm the dentist’s diagnosis and can show the extent of damage. These infections show up on x-rays as dark areas around the tip of the root. Root canal treatment is necessary when the nerve of the tooth is infected. Root canal treatment, checking for periodontal (gum) disease, evaluating if you are a candidate for dental implants and even looking for tumors or cysts require X-rays. Waiting too long can lead to hearing the words “root canal”, which is usually not something people want to hear!ĭental x-rays are also needed for other purposes besides checking for cavities. X-rays increase a dental professional’s ability to detect while they are small enough to fix with a simple filling. The larger a cavity grows before treatment, the more treatment the tooth may need. A cavity that develops on the side of a tooth (where floss cleans) may not be visible until it is quite large. Digital x-ray images can also be enlarged and enhanced to provide more detail and easier viewing – by both you and your dentist.īecause many parts of the teeth cannot be seen by looking in the mouth, problems such as cavities can go unnoticed without the help of x-rays. X-rays help provide a clearer view of your teeth. Without X-rays, dental professionals can only see part of the teeth, as the sides and the roots are hidden from view. Some people wonder why radiographs (x-rays) are a necessary part of dental appointments. ![]()
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