Experience our Modern Approach to Dentistry with Digital X-rays
Westwood Dentistry provides the best possible dental care using top-of-the-line dental technologies. Digital X-rays are among the top technologies Drs. Monica Anand and Anshuman Rawat use to provide safe, precise, and fast treatment. Film-based X-rays have been the go-to radiographs, but now they have been overtaken by modern digital X-rays that are faster and safer.
Why do you need dental X-rays?
A visual exam can only detect superficial signs like decay, gum redness, swelling, lesions, etc. However, visual exams alone are insufficient to visualize the deeper structures of your mouth. Dental X-rays use special technology to visualize the inner structures of your teeth and jawbone.
The following are reasons you need dental X-rays.
- New patient evaluation: When you visit us for the first time, we’ll take a full set of dental X-rays to establish a baseline for your oral health.
- Diagnostics and prevention: We use dental X-rays to unearth tooth impaction, hidden cavities, and dental infections, which are not easily identifiable with the naked eye. Routine X-rays help monitor the health of your teeth and gums, ensuring that any problems, such as decay or periodontal disease, are detected early.
- Treatment planning: Like any successful project, planning is critical in dental care to achieve optimal outcomes. X-rays are crucial for planning dental procedures, such as root canals, crowns, implants, and extractions. They provide a detailed view of the affected area, ensuring targeted and effective treatment.
Traditional X-rays use a small film placed in the mouth to capture images by absorbing radiation. In contrast, modern X-rays utilize a digital sensor to produce highly detailed images of your teeth and bone. These images are transmitted to a computer in real-time and stored digitally. If you’ve ever been uneasy about dental X-rays, there’s good news—modern X-rays emit 80-90% less radiation. However, it’s still essential to follow safety protocols to minimize radiation exposure further.
How often should dental X-rays be taken?
Although the recommendation for regular check-up X-rays was every 6 months, our office only takes dental X-rays when it’s essential, which is typically every year. The frequency of dental X-rays depends on your oral health. Healthy patients with low risk can get away with yearly X-rays, whereas patients at high risk of dental and gum disease should have routine X-rays every 6 months. Routine X-rays allow us to track changes in your oral health to devise corrective actions promptly.
What are the benefits of digital X-rays?
Step into the world of modern dentistry and enjoy the following benefits of digital X-rays.
- Safety: Modern X-rays generate high-quality images with minimal radiation exposure, making them safe for regular use and pregnant mothers.
- High-quality images: The images are super-detailed, allowing us to make precise treatment plans. As the images are stored digitally, the doctor can easily access them for reference.
- Speed: Traditional X-rays require several minutes to develop in a darkroom before the dentist can view them. Digital X-rays produce images almost instantly. As soon as the X-ray is taken, the image is transmitted directly to a computer screen for immediate viewing.
- Environmental friendly: Film-based X-rays require chemical processing with materials that are harsh to the environment. Digital X-rays eliminate the need for non-degradable materials, contributing to more sustainable healthcare practices.
Do you need digital X-rays?
Westwood Dentistry embraces modern technologies to ensure dental care is as effective and convenient as possible. Modern X-rays have changed how we diagnose and address your dental concerns. Learn more about our dental technologies in Westwood, Massachusetts, by dialing (781) 514-6443.
