Dental x-rays and radiographs can be helpful diagnostic tools that help your dentist detect minor to severe oral damage caused by disease or injury that might not be visible during a routine oral exam. The frequency you should have x-rays taken depends on your current health situation and if you exhibit any symptoms of oral disease. At The Hope Dental Care Centre, Dr. Far, and Gang Wang, and the team can provide you with smile-saving diagnostic services such as panoramic x-rays, bitewing x-rays, and full mouth x-rays.

Panoramic x-ray

One diagnostic tool your dentist will use to diagnose deeper issues is the panoramic x-ray which employs a very small dose of radiation to capture a complete image of your entire mouth all at once. It’s often performed by oral surgeons and dentists daily and can be used for treatments such as braces, dentures, implants, and extractions.

Full-mouth x-ray (FMX)

Our team uses a series of full-mouth x-rays which can include about 10 different x-ray images, such as periapical x-rays of all your teeth and bitewing x-rays. This x-ray service is typically performed every 4-5 years, depending on the patient’s oral health history.

Full-mouth x-rays can tell a dentist a lot of information in one sitting, allowing them to detect issues such as:

• Tooth decay occurring below fillings
• Interproximal cavities (cavities between teeth)
• Bone loss
• Periapical x-rays (PA)

These x-rays are taken separately for each tooth. The x-ray covers the tooth crown to the tip of its root. They identify certain infections close to the tooth root, pulp, and canal.

Bitewing x-rays

These x-rays are the most common radiographs dentists use to diagnose oral issues. Bitewing x-rays can give your dentist insights into the positioning and health of your teeth below the gums, plus they can diagnose gum disease. The name of this x-ray procedure is derived from how it is performed. They use a mouthpiece with a tab patients bite down on.

Learn More About How Dental X-Rays Can Improve Your Oral Health

To learn more about the benefits of dental x-rays, call The Hope Dental Care Centre at (343) 803-6333 to set up your one-on-one consultation with our team. Our office is at 500 Hazeldean Rd Suite 107, Kanata, ON.