Dental X-Rays

Like other x-rays ordered by doctors to check for things like broken bones, we use dental x-rays to help see the parts of your teeth that sit below the gums and the surrounding bone.

Why do I need dental x-rays?

We may recommend that you undergo a series of x-rays if we have not seen you before as a patient, so that we can complete a comprehensive examination to understand your overall dental status.

The need for x-rays can depend on:

• If you’re an existing LifeCare patient
• Your age and dental history
• Any symptoms requiring investigation
• The number of teeth present
• Visible condition of your teeth & gums
• The treatment being proposed

What problems could a dental x-ray reveal?

We may need to take different types of x-rays depending upon what structures we are trying to view. Larger x-rays often provide a broader overview and are often taken outside the mouth. Smaller x-rays (where the x-ray film is placed inside the mouth) are used to show a smaller area in more detail, such as the area between two teeth.

Some conditions which may show up on an x-ray:

• Tooth decay, including the presence of decay between your teeth and/or underneath fillings
• Tooth abscesses
• Bone loss associated with Peridontal (gum) disease
• Cysts, or areas of chronic infection which can be associated with unerrupted teeth, or teeth which have suffered some sort of trauma
• Your teeth are stained from drinks such as coffee, tea or red wine
• Developing teeth – whether they are present and whether they appear as expected in the correct location
• The presence of extra teeth or alternatively the absence of teeth
• The presence of wisdom teeth and their position
• Traumatic injuries such as tooth and/or bone fractures
• The presence of any growths
• Inflammation of sinuses (on larger x-rays)