Do You Need Dental X-rays Every Six Months?

Do you need to get a dental X-ray taken every 6 months? That’s a question often asked of the dental experts at Dentistry in Streetsville in Mississauga.

Having your dental X-rays taken during an appointment for dental services is an important part of your ongoing dental care. However, it’s important to know how often this is actually necessary.

The truth is, adults without obvious dental problems or visual signs of oral disease do not need dental X-rays every 6 months. However, dental X-rays can help your dentist identify typical dental problems, such as cavities, tooth decay and impacted teeth. Adults and older children with a low propensity for cavities can often go anywhere from 12 to 18 months without receiving any bitewing X-rays during a visit to the dentist.

However, there are still some risks involved in not having dental X-rays done on an annual basis. Tooth decay can spread very rapidly in teeth that are not being properly cleaned; this can also lead to gum disease. Dental X-rays can quickly reveal the existence of gum disease and other dental conditions not visible with a routine visual inspection.

Dental X-rays use low levels of radiation to capture images of the interior of a patient’s teeth and gums. These levels are harmless, and the X-rays take only a couple of minutes to complete properly. Other types of dental imaging - like full-mouth, panoramic, or 3D cone-beam computed tomography can also be used to reveal more and offer us greater information about the health of your teeth and gums. These do not have to be used annually in a patient without serious dental issues who routinely practices proper dental hygiene. Panoramic X-rays are generally recommended every 3 to 5 years.

We will be able to give you an accurate indication of how often you will need to have a dental X-ray completed during your semi-annual examination. For example, if you start feeling pain in your teeth or jaw, you may want to schedule a visit to take an X-ray to help us clearly identify the problem. Use of an X-ray image in concert with a visual inspection will give us greater confidence in our diagnosis.

Visit Dentistry in Streetsville at 100 Queen Street South, Suite 101, in Mississauga to discover all the ways we can help you with your dental health. Call 905-821-8221 to book an appointment. Also, visit us on Facebook and Instagram at DentistryInStreetsville.