Dental X-Rays

Dental radiographs (xrays) are an essential part of a thorough dental exam. With advances in technology, your exposure to radiation is minimal, and they may reveal conditions between the teeth or underneath the gums that are not visible to the naked eye. 

Dental x-rays may reveal:

• Abscesses or cysts.
• Bone loss.
• Cancerous and non-cancerous tumors.
• Decay between the teeth.
• Developmental abnormalities.
• Poor tooth and root positions.
• Problems inside a tooth or below the gum line.
• Impacted wisdom teeth

Are dental x-rays safe?

In short, yes. We are all exposed to radiation in our everyday lives. The amount of radiation you get from a series of dental xrays is about the same as you get from just living on Earth for a day.

Dr. Hudepohl and his staff take necessary precautions to limit your exposure to radiation when taking dental x-rays.  These precautions include using lead apron shields to protect the body and using digital film that cuts down the exposure time. We have included a chart for reference:

How often should dental x-rays be taken?

We believe that each individual should be treated based on their own needs. A good rule of thumb is to take xrays every year so that we can monitor everything going on between the teeth and underneath the gums, and so that a small problem does not turn into a large problem. However, that guideline can be tweaked for people that have little or no fillings or cavities, or vice versa.