Q: Why do I need x-rays taken of my teeth?
A: Cavities are sneaky; we can’t always see them with the naked eye, especially if they’re between teeth. Dental x-rays can also reveal infections at the roots of a tooth which would otherwise be completely invisible until they become painful and abscessed. Cysts and impacted teeth hidden below the gums also appear on x-rays. You can read more about the “what” and “why” of x-rays at All Smiles Family Dentistry by clicking here.
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Q: How often do I need x-rays?
A: The answer is different for everyone, depending on their oral health needs and medical history. The general baseline recommendation by dental health experts is for everyone, once they start to get their adult teeth, to have a series of x-rays performed once every 12-24 months. Some patients are recommended to have x-rays more often than the 12-month minimum, such as those with gum disease so that the status of their gum disease can be more closely and regularly monitored. While the answer might be different for everyone, we can assure you of this: we ONLY take x-rays as often as absolutely necessary; we will NEVER subject you or any of our patients to x-rays that we don’t think are needed.
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Q: At what age does my child need x-rays?
A: X-rays on children are used to detect decay early and ensure permanent teeth are developing properly. At All Smiles Family Dentistry, we generally start x-rays on patients at 5 or 6 years old, when the first adult teeth usually appear. We want to catch any problems occurring with these new adult teeth as soon as possible, before they become bigger problems that could interrupt healthy oral development. The American Dental Association recommends starting dental x-rays as soon as they can sit through a short, 4-picture series of x-rays.
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Q: Should I be worried about the radiation from dental x-rays?
A: The science is very clear: NO, you should not be worried at all! Annual dental x-rays account for an incredibly, incredibly small amount of the radiation a percent is exposed to in a year. “Radiation exposure associated with dental imaging represents a minor contribution to the total exposure from all sources,” writes the American Dental Association. “Overall, dental imaging accounts for less than 1 percent of the estimated collective annual effective dose received from [all] medical imaging.” Numerous peer-reviewed studies have also determined that x-rays DO NOT increase the risk of a person developing cancer. There is a “joke” that you get more radiation from standing in direct sunlight for 5 minutes than from a series of dental x-rays; honestly, this statement is not far from the truth! If you would like more in-depth information about the radiation from dental x-rays, we recommendation reading data and studies from the American Dental Association and other peer-reviewed, expert sources.
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Q: Does someone make sure the x-ray devices at All Smiles Family Dentistry are safe and operating correctly?
A: The state of Illinois’ Emergency Management Agency is responsible for inspecting the x-ray machines at thousands of dental practices throughout the state. IEMA conducts inspections to ensure that every single x-ray device at our practice is safe and operating within the limits set by the law.
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Q: Can I refuse to take x-rays at All Smiles Family Dentistry?
A: We cannot—and will not—EVER force you, or any patient of ours, to do something they don’t feel comfortable doing. However, we ask that every patient understand that our dental healthcare providers must be comfortable with every situation, as well; without x-rays, we may not be able to see cavities, infections, or other potential problems, which means we are unable to meet our moral and legal responsibilities to provide for your dental health to the best of our ability.
