DENTAL NEWS
Dental x-rays are perhaps the most valuable tool a dentist has in their battle to keep your teeth and gums healthy. But no matter how good one's dental insurance coverage is, no one can afford to get x-rays every week to say nothing of the inconvenience such a regiment would incur.
So exactly how often should X-rays be done on your teeth? The answer depends on your dental history as some people, like those with chronic dental problems, may need X-rays every six months while others who visit the dentist regularly and have excellent oral health may need X-rays only every three years or so.
To see if you or your family members should get regular dental X-rays (i.e. every 6-12 months), follow these guidelines as they are based on information from both the American Dental Association and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Those who need frequent X-rays are;
* Children & Teenagers - Children and teens at high risk of decay and those who have a history of many cavities, may need X-rays every six months or every year, depending on age. X-rays also help to keep track of tooth development.
* Adults With Many Fillings, Crowns, Bridges or Other Restorations - X-rays help the dentist find decay beneath your fillings and crowns or in new locations.
* People With Periodontal (Gum) Disease - X-rays can reveal signs of bone loss. If this has happened, then periodontal or gum surgery may be needed.
* People With Dry Mouth (Xerostomia) - Saliva helps keep your mouth and teeth healthy by regulating the acid levels (pH) in the mouth. In a dry mouth, the pH decreases. This causes the minerals in the teeth to break down, resulting in more cavities. Many medicines can cause dry mouth. It also can be a result of cancer treatment or a long-term disease.
* Smokers - Smoking increases the risk of periodontal disease (as well as many, many other of health-related problems)
If you or a loved one falls into any of the five above categories, just remember that catching a dental problem while it's small and still in the early stages can prevent major (and costly) dental problems later on.
It is so important for patients to get regular exams and x-rays taken to catch decay early. Often patients want to avoid x-rays due to cost but at our practice we always remind them that an x-ray is cheaper than a major dental procedure down the road that may have been minor if treated early.
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