• Do I have to get x-rays?

Dental x-rays are necessary periodically to check for cavities, bone loss, and other abnormalities.  At your initial appointment, our doctors will need x-rays to review your oral health and provide any treatment recommendations.  Cavities often start in between your teeth where it is nearly impossible to see clinically in your mouth until the cavities are very large.  Dental x-rays allow us to catch cavities when they are small and then provide treatment recommendations.  Small cavities can sometimes be remineralized through better oral hygiene, improvements in diet, and increased fluoride on your teeth.  It is better to catch a cavity when it is small than to let it get large and end up requiring more costly and time-consuming treatment.  Our panoramic x-rays allow us to evaluate your bone, check for any signs of tooth infection, and check for any tumors or cysts. We will look at you as an individual when determining what x-rays are needed.  Things we look at when recommending what dental x-rays are needed include medical history, diet, previous cavity history, reports of pain, chewing sensitivity, cold sensitivity, and reports of sweet sensitivity.