
What a Dental X-Ray Can Tell Us About Your Teeth

Dental X-rays are the best way to diagnose cavities and other underlying issues that affect your oral health. At Lancaster Dental Associates, we offer advanced X-ray technologies in-office to identify your dental needs.
Experienced dentist Kamran Saidara, DDS, and our team use the results from your dental X-rays to customize a treatment plan. They provide a variety of general and cosmetic dentistry services to keep your smile looking great and to protect the long-term health of your teeth and gums.
An overview of dental X-rays
Dental X-rays use electromagnetic radiation to create images of your teeth and jawbone. Traditional X-rays capture the pictures on film. Images from digital dental X-rays, which use less radiation than traditional X-rays, are uploaded to a computer.
Undergoing dental X-rays is painless. Our dental team protects you from X-ray radiation by placing a lead apron over your chest. They position the technology in different ways to capture pictures of your mouth from all angles, including:
Bitewing X-rays
Bitewing X-rays include images of your upper and lower teeth in one area of your mouth.
Occlusal X-rays
Occlusal X-rays provide images of the roof and floor of your mouth.
Periapical X-rays
Periapical X-rays capture the entire structure of your tooth from the crown to the root tip.
What X-rays can tell your dental team about your oral health
Dental X-rays can provide vital information about your overall oral health during your checkup. X-ray results help our team determine if you need any dental treatments and identify what treatments are required.
Oral health issues that dental X-rays can detect include cavities and tooth decay that occurs beneath existing fillings. X-ray imaging can even identify small cavities that are starting to form between two teeth.
Our team also uses X-rays to identify:
- Cysts
- Gum disease
- Jaw cancer
- Jawbone loss
- Impacted wisdom teeth
- Infection and abscesses
We may also request X-rays if you’re planning to get orthodontic treatments like braces or if you’re interested in dentures or dental implants. If you undergo a root canal, we may perform dental X-rays during your follow-up appointment to ensure your teeth and gums are healing well.
When to schedule dental X-rays
At Lancaster Dental Care Associates, Dr. Saidara and our dental team usually take X-rays of your mouth during your six-month checkup to assess the health of your teeth, gums, and jaw.
X-rays may also be necessary if you experience a dental emergency and have issues like:
- Mouth or jaw pain
- Broken teeth
- Swollen gums
- Difficulties chewing
We may also request more frequent X-rays if you’re being treated for gum disease or other chronic oral health conditions. X-ray imaging helps us ensure your treatment is working well and the condition isn’t worsening.
If you haven’t had a routine dental check-up or cleaning in more than a year, you may be at risk for cavities and other dental complications. Call Lancaster Dental Care Associates in Lancaster, California, today to schedule a dental X-ray appointment or book a consultation.
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