Regular dental check-ups and x-ray screenings of your teeth are important for maintaining oral health, which can have an impact on your overall health and wellness. Regular checkups provide the dentist with an opportunity to catch minor concerns before they become major problems.
X-rays are a great tool for finding problems early. Small cavities that are undetectable to the naked eye are made visible through the use of x-ray photography. Tooth decay can be stopped when found and treated early. Unfortunately, some people will wait to see the dentist when their tooth hurts. At this point it may be too late to save the tooth because the decay is too large or has reached the nerve.
Besides tooth decay, x-rays can detect damage to the bones that support the teeth, dental injuries that lie below the surface of the gums, teeth that are not coming in properly, and other things that the dentist cannot see by simply looking inside your mouth. Another reason for taking x-rays is to help the dentist make solid plans for the treatment of major cavities, root canals, dental implants, and tooth extractions.
Radiation from dental x-rays is a concern for some people, and we can understand this. We can tell you that the radiation exposure from dental x-rays is very minimal and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that medical problems resulting from this very small amount of radiation are unlikely to occur. We are exposed to radiation from various sources everyday, and the exposure from a dental x-ray is a negligible amount (much less than other medical x-rays). We also protect you with the use of a lead apron which covers your vital organs.
Do not wait until you have pain to visit a dentist. Call us today to make an appointment, and we will get you on a regular schedule of twice a year check-ups so that we can treat and prevent problems before they lead to oral surgery, the loss of your teeth, or other undesirable outcomes. Our phone number is (607) 777-1340.