Digital X-Rays: A Closer Look at the Hidden Places in Your Mouth

Dental x-rays have been a staple in dental healthcare for decades. They help dentists get a more complete picture of your oral health as well as catch dental problems long before they appear on the surface. The digital x-rays we use here at Family Smiles of Fleming Island make this process even easier!

Like traditional dental x-rays, digital x-rays allow dentists to take pictures of the internal structures of your mouth. Unlike regular photos, the images appear with lighter areas and darker areas. The light areas are denser structures like bones and teeth and the dark areas represent less dense tissues such as the gums and cavities.

Like traditional x-rays, digital x-rays give dentists a clearer view of the inside of your mouth. The images help with diagnosing various conditions including:

• Issues with proper dental development
• Issues under the gumline or inside your teeth
• Abscesses
• Tumors, whether cancerous or benign
• Bone loss
• Periodontal disease
• Tooth decay (especially between the teeth where it is impossible to see with the naked eye)

Furthermore, traditional x-rays expose you to a very low dose of radiation. This radiation is so minimal that the benefits have been viewed as outweighing any negative effect.

However, digital x-rays expose you to as much as 90% less radiation than traditional x-rays. This makes the procedure even safer and more effective.

Dentists will usually take digital x-rays as part of a routine oral exam. How often will depend on a few factors including your level of risk and the state of your oral health. Your dentist may also take digital x-rays if they see something during your exam that makes them want to take a closer look. Visit us at Family Smiles of Fleming Island for a full exam including digital x-rays to support your dental health. Call today! We’d love to be the reason you smile!