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Dental x-rays play a crucial role in dental care because they let dentists see what is going on beneath your gums and teeth. Some people are curious about how often they should take a dental x ray. We’ll answer that question in this blog and offer some helpful advice.

Why Do you Need Dental X-Rays

Understanding why you need dental x rays is important before we can discuss how frequently to get them. Dental x rays can help dentists detect issues that might not be visible on a regular exam. These include cavities, gum disease and impacted tooth. The dentist can monitor the growth of children’s and teenagers’ teeth.

How Often Do You Need a Dental X ray?

How often you should have dental x-rays is determined by your personal dental health. If you are at an increased risk for dental problems, or have a past history of dental issues, then your dentist might recommend more frequent xrays. Here are some general guidelines to help you decide how often you need dental x-rays.

  1. Adults without recent dental issues: every 2 to 3-years
  2. Adults who have a history of dental issues: every 6-18 months
  3. Children and teens every 1 to 3 years or as recommended.

Please note that this is only a guideline. Your dentist will recommend a schedule tailored to your specific needs.

Factors affecting how often you require X-rays

The frequency of your dental x rays can be affected by several factors, including

  1. Children and teenagers will need to have more frequent xrays taken in order to monitor the development and growth of their teeth.
  2. Medical history: Patients that have had dental problems in the past, such as tooth decay or gum disease, might require more frequent xrays.
  3. Changes in Oral Health: If you have noticed any new symptoms, or any changes in the health of your mouth, your dentist might recommend that you get additional x rays taken to diagnose the issue.
  4. Dental treatments. If you have dental treatments like root canals and fillings, your dentist might recommend that you take x-rays in order to monitor their success.

Minimizing Radiation Exposure

Although dental x rays are considered to be safe in general, they can expose patients to small amounts of radiation. If you want to minimize the radiation exposure, your dentist might use a protective lead apron or digital x rays that use less radiation.

Summary

If there have been no recent dental problems, then most patients will only require dental x rays every two to three year. Depending on your needs, you may need to have x rays more often or less frequently. Talk to your dental professional if you have concerns about how frequently you should be getting dental x rays.

Your dentist can make personalized recommendations based upon your dental history and present needs. Dental x-rays help to detect and treat dental problems.

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