menu

Dental x-rays

Why do we take X-rays?

X-rays allow us to see what is happening inside the teeth and under the gums, which cannot be seen with the naked eye.

This helps us detect potential problems early on, such as cavities, gums diseases, or abnormal teeth development, before they become more serious and require more invasive treatments.

By catching these issues early, we can provide the most effective and least invasive treatments to keep your child’s teeth and gums healthy.

The types of X-rays

  1. Bite wings
    Bite-wings are small overview pictures of the molars of your teeth. We take two photos: one on the left and one on the right. This photo shows the crown part of the molars, i.e. the part that you can also see in the mouth. Furthermore, a small portion of the roots and surrounding bone can be seen. Bite-wings are made on average once every two years, depending on the health of the teeth and the age of the patient. For vulnerable teeth, we do them more frequently.
  2. Solo
    We do the solo x-rays if we want to examine a specific tooth in more detail. This type of photo shows the entire tooth or molar: the crown part, the root part and the area around the root tip. For example, we can observe an inflammation in the area around the root tip.

A bitewing is a small dental X-ray of the back teeth that shows both the upper and lower teeth in one image. It is mainly used to detect cavities between the teeth and to assess the bone level around them. Because cavities between teeth are often difficult to see, bitewing X-rays are an important part of dental check-ups.

A bitewing mainly shows the crowns of several back teeth at once and is commonly used during routine check-ups. A periapical X-ray focuses on one specific tooth or molar and also shows the root and surrounding bone. This helps the dentist assess whether there is, for example, an infection or damage.

How often X-rays are needed depends on your child's oral health and risk of dental problems. Children with a higher risk of cavities may need check-up X-rays more often, while those with healthy teeth may need them less frequently. X-rays help the dentist detect small problems before they become bigger ones.

X-rays are often taken when the dentist suspects a problem that cannot be seen directly, such as a cavity between the molars or an infection near the root. They help determine which treatment is needed, for example for cavities (caries) in children or a damaged tooth after dental trauma.

Feel free to contact us.

Contact us >