Quick answer: Dental X-rays reveal what an examination cannot see: decay between teeth and under existing fillings, infection at the root tip, bone loss from gum disease, and the position of teeth that have not yet erupted. Digital radiography captures these images using less radiation than traditional film and displays them instantly.
What a dentist cannot see by looking
A visual examination covers the surfaces of the teeth that face outwards. It cannot see between two teeth that are in contact, it cannot see beneath an existing filling or crown, and it cannot see the bone level or the tip of a root.
Those are precisely the places where problems begin quietly. Decay between two back teeth typically causes no symptoms until it is well advanced. Bone loss from gum disease is invisible from above. An infection at the root tip of a tooth can be entirely painless.
What X-rays show
- Decay between teeth and under existing restorations
- Infection or an abscess at the root tip
- Bone level, and bone loss caused by periodontal disease
- The position of teeth that have not yet come through, including wisdom teeth
- Cysts and other changes in the jaw bone
- Whether there is enough bone for a dental implant
How digital radiography differs from film
Digital radiography replaces film with an electronic sensor. The practical differences are worth understanding:
- Less radiation. Digital sensors are more sensitive than film, so a shorter exposure produces a usable image.
- Immediate results. The image appears on screen in seconds, with no chemical processing.
- Adjustable images. Contrast and magnification can be altered on screen, so a suspect area can be examined closely without retaking the image.
- Easier to share. Images can be shown to you on the screen during the appointment, and sent to a specialist without posting anything.
- No processing chemicals.
How often are X-rays needed?
There is no fixed schedule that applies to everyone. Frequency depends on your age, your decay and gum disease history, whether you have symptoms, and what previous images showed. A patient with a stable, low-risk mouth needs them less often than one with recurring decay. The principle is that radiographs are taken when the information will change what happens next, not routinely for the sake of it.
If you are pregnant
Tell the practice. Dental treatment during pregnancy is not off limits and gum health during pregnancy genuinely matters, but the timing of non-urgent radiographs is something the dentist will discuss with you.
Booking
Digital X-rays are taken as part of a comprehensive oral exam when they are needed. Call (860) 756-5423 to arrange one.
Frequently asked questions
Are dental X-rays safe?
Dental radiographs use a very small dose, and digital sensors need less exposure than traditional film to produce a usable image. Dentists take them when the information will change a treatment decision rather than as a matter of routine.
How often do I need dental X-rays?
There is no single schedule. Frequency depends on your decay and gum disease history, your age, whether you have symptoms and what previous images showed. Low-risk patients need them less often.
What can an X-ray show that an examination cannot?
Decay between teeth and under existing fillings, infection at the root tip, the level of the supporting bone, unerupted teeth including wisdom teeth, and cysts or other changes in the jaw.
What is the difference between digital X-rays and film?
Digital radiography uses an electronic sensor instead of film. It requires less radiation, shows the image on screen within seconds, allows contrast and magnification to be adjusted without retaking, and uses no processing chemicals.
Can I have dental X-rays while pregnant?
Tell the practice you are pregnant. Dental care during pregnancy is important, particularly for gum health, and the dentist will discuss the timing of any non-urgent radiographs with you.
Book with Connecticut Family Dental Group
Connecticut Family Dental Group is at 88 New Britain Avenue, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. Call (860) 756-5423 or request an appointment. The practice is open Monday through Thursday.
This article is general information for patients and is not a substitute for an examination or individual clinical advice. If something in your mouth is painful, swollen or changing, call the practice.