X-rays are a vital aspect of dental care. By using X-ray images, dentists and oral surgeons can look closer at teeth, gums, and other soft tissues inside your mouth to uncover problems they can't see with their naked eyes. Being on the receiving end of dental imaging might be uncomfortable for a few minutes, but the benefits are plentiful. Learn more about X-rays and your dental health with these interesting facts about the process.

3 Things You Should Know About Dental X-rays

1. How X-Rays Work

X-rays are a diagnostic tool dentists use to find underlying problems in teeth and gums, like tooth decay and abscesses. To get the images, you would insert a bite plate into your mouth while the dentist puts an X-ray machine on either side of your face. The machine outside your mouth will move from side to side to produce a panoramic view of your mouth's interior structure, including the jawbone, sinuses, teeth, and gums. 

2. Their Risk to Your Health

People often fear X-ray machines because they produce radiation. However, the EPA states that standard dental X-rays only expose patients to about 0.004 millisieverts (mSV), which is substantially less exposure than people receive from background sources, like radon in houses. Digital dental X-rays produce less radiation than traditional X-ray imaging, making them safe diagnostic tools. 

3. How Fast X-Rays Produce Images

Many dental offices use digital dental X-ray equipment because they quickly produce accurate images. It can take a few minutes to set up the equipment and position everything inside or outside the patient's mouth. Instead of creating images directly onto the film, dentists can scan their patients' mouths and immediately receive the images on a monitor. 

If you want the best dental care in Fishersville, VA, visit Bradford and Catchings Family Dentistry. This family dentist proudly offers comprehensive dental care to patients of all ages, using a holistic patient-first approach to help everyone stay relaxed and comfortable during their visits. The dental practice offers a range of personalized general and cosmetic dentistry services, including fast braces, examinations with digital X-rays, tooth extraction, and periodontal disease treatment. Book an appointment today at (540) 213-1966, or visit their website to learn about their services.