What Is A Preventative Care X-ray?

Preventative care X-rays, also known as dental radiographs, are diagnostic images taken of your teeth and supporting structures to help our dental team assess your oral health. These X-rays provide valuable information that is not visible during a regular dental examination, enabling us to identify potential problems and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

As part of Healthy Smiles's commitment to preventive dentistry, we offer preventative care X-rays to help identify and address dental issues in their early stages.

How it works?

You will be positioned in a comfortable sitting or standing posture for a preventative care X-ray, and a lead apron will be put over your body. The X-ray equipment, which releases very little radiation, will be focused toward the specific area of your mouth.

Preventative care X-rays are of three major types — including bitewing X-rays, periapical X-rays, and panoramic X-rays. Bitewing X-rays capture images of the upper and lower back teeth, allowing your dentist to evaluate the contact between the teeth and detect signs of decay. Periapical X-rays focus on individual teeth, providing a detailed view of the tooth roots and surrounding bone structure. They help us assess the health of individual teeth, detect infections, and evaluate the bone level.

Finally, Panoramic X-ray provides a broad view of your entire oral cavity, including the upper and lower jaws, teeth, and supporting structures. Panoramic X-rays are helpful for assessing overall oral health, evaluating impacted teeth, and identifying abnormalities.

The X-ray pictures obtained during the procedure are presented on a computer screen in real-time, allowing your dentist to assess the results. These scans are useful in identifying various dental disorders, including cavities, impacted teeth, infections, bone loss, and irregularities in tooth development.

Benefits Of A Preventative Care Exam

Preventative care X-rays offer several benefits to patients:

Early Detection of Dental Issues: X-rays can reveal dental problems in their early stages before they become visible to the naked eye. Detecting issues early allows for prompt treatment, preventing further damage and reducing the need for more extensive procedures.

Comprehensive Assessment: X-rays provide a detailed view of your teeth, roots, and supporting structures. This enables our dental team to evaluate the overall health of your mouth, identify hidden problems, and develop a customized treatment plan.

Personalized Treatment: With the information obtained from X-rays, we can tailor our treatment recommendations to address your specific dental needs. With this, you can be certain that you'll get the best possible treatment.

Preventing Future Complications: By detecting and addressing dental problems in their early stages, preventative care X-rays help prevent more severe complications. Timely intervention can save you from unnecessary pain, discomfort, and costly treatments.

Monitoring Oral Health: Regular X-rays allow our dental team to monitor changes in your oral health over time. By comparing X-rays from different visits, we can identify patterns, track the progress of dental treatments, and make informed decisions about your ongoing care.

Patient Education: X-rays serve as a visual aid for patient education. We can show you the images and explain any concerns, helping you understand your dental health and the recommended treatments.

At Healthy Smiles, we prioritize your safety and well-being. Our preventative care X-rays are performed with your comfort and best interests in mind. Schedule your appointment today and experience the benefits of our comprehensive dental services.