Digital X-rays in Queens Have More Benefits
Digital dental X-rays are one of the basic tools your dentist in Queens employs to understand your oral health. X-rays reveal hidden decay, the status of existing fillings and crowns, and problems with tooth roots and bone structure. Also, today’s X-rays are digital, releasing just tiny amounts of radiation for better patient and technician safety. Learn why your dentist uses digital X-rays in Queens for all the patients who come to NY Smile Creators.
Why Dentists X-ray Teeth
Dr. Gochman and Dr. Bharati at NY Smile Creators use modern digital X-rays to visualize your teeth, gums, jaw, and facial bones. These images are important because they give the dentists a wealth of information that they could not discern with just the naked eye. X-rays reveal information about the patient’s general health status, too.
The kinds of details revealed with X-rays include:
- Presence of cavities, particularly in between teeth and other hidden areas of the mouth
- How the teeth and bone structure are developing in children and teens
- The extent of gum disease
- Presence of dental abscesses (infections), tumors and oral injuries such as fractures and displaced teeth
- Impacted wisdom teeth
- Malformations of bone and tooth structure, including the congenital absence of teeth
- Bone loss caused by periodontal disease
- Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ)
The types of X-ray views are panoramic (viewing the entire mouth), bitewing (for back teeth), periapical (to look at a tooth from root to crown) and occlusal (showing how upper and lower teeth bite together). Your dentist determines which views he or she requires and when to take them.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) developed guidelines for dental X-rays in the 1980s. In general, the FDA said that children need more frequent X-rays because their teeth and jaws are developing and changing. Plus, people with compromised oral health require more frequent X-rays to check the progress of their treatments and to detect the development of any additional problems.
Why Digital X-rays Are Better
The use of dental X-rays originated in the 1890s. Images at this time were unclear, took larger amounts of radiation, and required a lot of time to develop. Film radiographs (another word for X-rays) exclusively were used by all dentists until recently. Now dentists favor digital imaging because of its low-radiation safety for both patients and professional staff and other reasons, including:
- Filmless development (images are captured digitally)
- Computer storage (no more cumbersome paper files to take up office space)
- Practically instantaneous processing
- Easier enlargement for better viewing on chairside monitors
- Easier and clearer patient teaching
- Quick transfer to the primary care physician, orthodontist or oral surgeon
- Higher resolution images than old-style X-rays
Digital X-rays are a Great Tool
Digital X-rays assist the team at NY Smile Creators in delivering the best possible preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dental treatments. Combined with your good hygiene habits at home, digital X-rays, cleanings, and visual exams by our dentists, optimize your oral health and smile aesthetics. For your routine appointment, please contact NY Smile Creators today.