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.
- Adults without recent dental issues: every 2 to 3-years
- Adults who have a history of dental issues: every 6-18 months
- 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
- Children and teenagers will need to have more frequent xrays taken in order to monitor the development and growth of their teeth.
- Medical history: Patients that have had dental problems in the past, such as tooth decay or gum disease, might require more frequent xrays.
- 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.
- 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.