Advanced digital x-ray used at Ocean Breeze Dental Care releases less radiation than those of the past. At our General & Cosmetic Dental Practice in West Los Angeles, we take extra precaution by applying a protective lead apron. Pregnant or breastfeeding patients should inform our knowledgeable & compassionate dental professionals in advance so that extra precautions can be put into place.
In less than 15 minutes, digital x-rays help reveal what is going on inside your teeth to assist the general, pediatric & cosmetic dentistry team to look for signs of decay or disease that may otherwise remain hidden. Dr. Travis Lee at Ocean Breeze Dental Care generally recommends a full set to be taken every 3 to 5 years and an annual scan. The following are diagnoses or treatments that are conducted with dental x-rays.
Orthodontic Treatments
Your teeth may be misaligned, overlapping or gapped. This is observable by just looking at your teeth. However, 66% of your teeth are below your gums. To do an orthodontic procedure, the dentist needs to see these roots and this requires an x-ray.
Cavities
Cavities (or “tooth decay”) at times appear on the surface of your tooth. The scope of most cavities, however, are not fully discernible by the naked eye. Tooth decay is plainly visible on an x-ray image. By using an x-ray, a dentist can examine the full extent of the damage. Afterward, it can be determined if the patient needs a root canal or just a simple filling.
Wisdom Teeth
As you grow, most people eventually need to have their wisdom teeth removed to avoid health problems. In order to make sure they are coming in properly, a dentist will use an x-ray to make sure your gums and jaw are going through a healthy development.
Bone Loss
Periodontitis is a severe form of gum disease that affects the jawbone, eventually, causing it to deteriorate. Without an x-ray, in most cases, it simply is not possible for your dentist to detect the presence of or damage done by periodontitis. With an x-ray, your dentist can properly treat it.
Please contact our General & Cosmetic Dental Practice in West Los Angeles with any questions or concerns you may have about dental x-rays.