Dental Exams and X-Rays in Watsonville
A thorough examination is essential in determining which treatment you’ll need to achieve optimal dental health. Dental X-rays are a necessary component of any complete examination as they allow us to identify ongoing or potential issues before they manifest or become worse. To make sure no dental maladies go unnoticed, come to Watsonville Dental Wellness Center.
Why Do You Need A Dental X-Ray?
Dental radiographs (X-rays) are essential, preventative, diagnostic tools that provide valuable information not visible during a regular dental exam. Our team uses this information to safely and accurately detect hidden dental abnormalities and provide an accurate treatment plan. Without X-rays, problem areas may go undetected.
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
Are Dental X-Rays Safe?
The amount of radiation exposure from a series of full-mouth X-rays is equal to the amount the average person receives in a single day from natural sources. X-rays’ low level of radiation make them a safe tool in a dentist’s arsenal. Our Watsonville dentists also take all the necessary precautions to limit your exposure to radiation by using lead apron shields and modern, fast film that cuts down the exposure time of each X-ray.
How Often Would You Need to Take a Dental X-Ray?
The need for X-rays varies depending on each patient’s needs. Your dentist and dental hygienist will recommend X-rays based on the review of your medical and dental history, dental exam, signs and symptoms, age consideration, and risk for disease.
A full mouth series of dental X-rays is recommended for new patients and is usually good for three to five years. Bite-wing X-rays (x-rays of top and bottom teeth biting together) are taken at your bi-annual visits to detect new dental problems.
Advances and Alternatives to X-Rays
Dental X-rays have come a long way. Today’s dental X-rays are safer, faster, more comfortable and informative than the X-rays of the past. Digital X-rays, one of the latest and most advanced dental technologies, produce high-quality images of your teeth that can be viewed instantly by you and your dentist on an LCD monitor. Digital X-rays reduce radiation by up to 90% and provide exceptional diagnostic information to ensure that potential problems are caught in their earliest stages.
Intraoral photography is another alternative to traditional dental X-rays. With intraoral photography, problems such as cavities, fractures and discolorations in the teeth are captured through clear and sharp photographic images taken with a 35mm or digital camera.
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Think You Might Be Suffering from a Dental Issue? Visit Our Dentist in Watsonville!
In order to improve your dental health, we must first identify the problem and customize a solution that fits your specific need. Watsonville Dental’s thorough examinations and X-rays, overseen by the trained eyes of our experts, ensure that we identify any pending dental problems early on.