When you’re settled in the chair at Coaldale Dental for your bi-annual dental hygiene appointment, you’ll experience top-notch care, from the base of your gums to the tips of your teeth!
Along with a thorough deep-cleaning, we evaluate the health of your teeth and gums – and that means snapping some dental X-rays.
Folks sometimes ask us, “Do I really need dental X-rays?”
Our answer? Yes!
This is because dental X-rays give us a clearer, deeper look into the story of your oral health.
Why dental X-rays are essential to your oral health
Dental X-rays not only tell us what’s going on right now with your teeth and gums, but they also give us insight into your future dental health. From minor dental decay to infected roots, we can see exactly what’s happening sooner.
The goal with dental x-rays is to catch (and nip) those small problems in the bud before they have a chance to wreak havoc with your dental health.
Getting routine dental X-rays:
- Identifies hidden tooth decay – It can be tough to spot areas where tooth decay is lurking (espeically between teeth and beneath old fillings or crowns) and X-rays help us (ahem) “See clearly where that decay has gone” 🎶
- Allows us to treat issues proactively versus reactively – Because we can spot oral health issues earlier through X-rays, we can ideally start treating them sooner, with less pain, discomfort and cost
- Positions you for greater overall health – When your teeth and gums are healthy, your body follows. X-rays help us to keep your teeth and gums happy and healthy so that you can enjoy a greater quality of life!
When is the best time to get dental x-rays?
We recommend folks get them during every other dental hygiene appointment – so, every 12 to 24 months is best. If you have had any invasive dental procedures such as fillings, crowns, implants or bridges, it’s best to get dental x-rays between 12 and 18 months.
However, dental x-ray frequency depends on unique you! If you rarely get cavities and don’t struggle with your oral health, then stretching that dental x-ray session to two years will work just fine.
But, if you find yourself getting your fair share of cavities or you’re developing a lot of oral health issues, then you should be getting X-rays more frequently.
Remember, the goal is so to catch those small problems sooner, so you can protect and preserve your oral health better.
Talk to us about your dental X-rays
If you’re ever unsure about dental X-rays, please don’t hesitate to ask us! We’ll tell you all about why they’re so important, where exactly we’re targeting and maybe even give you a peek at your own dental X-rays. We think teeth look pretty cool in X-ray vision.
Book in with us today for your routine dental hygiene appointment!