Dental X-Rays In Ancaster, ON
A dental x-ray is an important tool for a dentist that reveals details that dentists can easily miss during a dental examination. X-rays allow the dentist to see dental infections, cavities, impacted teeth, and problems with restorations that can go unnoticed without this important tool.
At Golf Links Dental, we use modern x-ray equipment that uses a small amount of radiation to produce a high-quality and detailed image. Our dental x-rays near you are safe for most patients of all ages.
Why Might You Need Dental X-rays?
Dental x-rays are an integral part of your routine dental examination appointment with our dentist near you at Golf Link Dental. If your teeth and gums are healthy, you will typically get four dental x-rays called bitewings taken once a year. Dentists use these x-rays to catch any potential dental issue, such as a cavity or periodontal infection, in their early stages.
However, if you have a history of dental cavities or infections or have undergone endodontic procedures, you might need an x-ray taken every time you visit your dentist. These x-rays allow the dentist to see whether the previous restorative procedures are holding up fine or if they need some adjustments.
Types of Dental X-rays
A dentist can take different types of dental x-rays depending on the condition of your teeth. The most common dental x-rays in Ancaster, ON, are intraoral x-rays. During these x-ray scans, your dentist will place a small sensor in your mouth and ask you to bite on it while they take an image.
There are the following three types of intraoral x-ryas:
- Bitewing: Used to assess bone density and tooth decay between the teeth
- Periapical: Use to assess the changes in the roots of your teeth
- Occlusal: Used to assess the growth of new teeth and their placement in children
Extraoral x-rays, on the other hand, are taken from outside your mouth and provide crucial information regarding the jaw and skull. At Golf Link Dental, we use these to assess the big picture of your oral health.
Some of the most common types of extraoral dental x-rays in Hamilton, ON, include:
- Cone-beam computed tomography: Most used during dental implant planning and evaluates the jaw, teeth, and facial bones for the proper implant placement.
- Cephalometric X-rays: Are used to plan orthodontic treatments and involve picturing the entire side of your head. These scans help identify the cause of sleep apnea and TMJ disorders.
- Panoramic X-rays: Show the structure of the entire mouth in one image. These dental x-rays in Hamilton, ON, allow the dentist to catch any emerging or impacted teeth and oral tumors.
Film X-Rays Vs. Digital X-Rays
Although dental x-rays have traditionally been taken on film, advances in imaging technology have seen dentists shifting toward digital x-ray techniques. Digital x-rays offer several advantages over conventional film x-rays, including:
- Digital x-rays use up to 90% less radiation than film-based scans
- Digital x-rays don’t need to be developed; they are available right away for your dentist to review
- Digital x-rays have a better resolution than film-based x-rays. Consequently, they allow the dentist to see the dental structure in more detail for a better diagnosis and to develop an efficient treatment strategy.
- A digital panoramic x-ray near you can create a much more detailed image than a conventional film x-ray.
Our Dentist in Coppell TX At Golf Links Dental, believe technology is a means to an end. Rather than getting caught up with the latest technology, we rely on our expertise to give you the best dental imaging options.
FAQs About Dental X-Rays
The cost of an x-ray depends on the type of x-ray you are getting. For instance, a bitewing x-ray taken during your routine dental examination can cost about $35, while a panoramic digital x-ray can cost as much as $150. The more detailed the x-ray image, the more it will cost.
Most dentists will take four bitewing x-rays once a year during one of your six-monthly dental checkup appointment. These x-rays help the dentist identify any dental issue in its infancy. However, if you have a history of orthodontic or endodontic procedures, the dentist might take an x-ray scan every visit to ensure everything is in order.
A full set of dental x-rays can cost between $300 to $700, depending on the x-ray technique and the details visualized in the examination.
If you get an intraoral x-ray, the dentist will put a scanner inside your mouth that you bite on while taking an image. If you are getting an extraoral x-ray, you sit still while the dentist takes an image using a probe outside your mouth.
