Low Radiation X-Ray’s

Low Radiation Dental X-Rays

In order to provide the best quality care to our patients, Whaling City Dental is dedicated to using the most advanced dental care technology. In order to provide safer and clearer results, our office uses digital x-rays. To educate you more about our low radiation dental x-rays, we have detailed what they are, why they are right for you, and how digital x-rays are taken.

What are Dental X-Rays?

A woman viewing x-ray screening resultsA dental x-ray is a picture of a patient’s teeth, mouth, and jaw that allows the dentist to clearly view the soft tissues, bones, and teeth. Dental x-rays help the dentist find cavities and other oral health issues such as impacted wisdom teeth that can’t be seen with a regular examination. The typical x-ray uses an outdated film method, but we use a more advanced digital x-ray option. In comparison to conventional film x-rays, our digital x-ray machines have the following advantages:

  • Digital x-rays are instantaneous which allows our dentists to immediately review them resulting in faster appointments for our patients. The x-rays are also saved on a computer for later referencing.
  • Digital x-rays can be magnified and reveal things that film x-rays can’t.
  • Digital x-ray machines use 50% less radiation than film x-rays.

Is a Dental X-Ray Right for You?

Dental x-rays are typically used by the majority of our patients—especially if an oral health problem is suspected. However, if you are pregnant or suspect you are pregnant, we recommend that you don’t have an x-ray taken. If an x-ray is absolutely necessary for a pregnant patient, we will offer the proper protection to help shield your baby from the x-ray. We periodically recommend that our patients have new x-rays taken in order to determine what oral health changes have gone on in the patient. Dental x-rays can be taken in order to help address the following issues:

  • Teeth straightening
  • Cavities
  • Dental implant placement
  • Root canal surgery
  • Tooth removal

How is a Dental X-Ray Performed?

Dental x-rays are performed in our office. A dental technician covers the patient in a heavy lead apron to help shield the patient’s body from the x-rays.Once the sensor is in place, the dental technician takes the x-ray pictures. The sensor might be moved to different placements in order to acquire x-rays of different portions of your mouth.