As a subscriber, you have 10 gift items to give away each month. Anyone can read what you share. My dental hygienist congratulated me on the health of my teeth and gums. Then he said something that you have also undoubtedly heard while sitting in the dentist's chair.
But the easy answer isn't necessarily the right one. Do I need bite x-rays every year? The American Dental Association says I can't, and neither can you. Adults with no apparent dental problems don't need dental x-rays of any kind every year, A, D, A. Adults who take proper care of their teeth and have no symptoms of oral disease or tooth decay can spend two to three years between bite x-rays, according to A, D, A.
Adults at high risk of tooth decay (such as those with a history of tooth decay) should receive it at least every 18 months and possibly more often, depending on the condition of the teeth and gums. The interval between x-rays is determined by the rate at which cavities develop. It usually takes about two years or more for cavities to penetrate adult tooth enamel. The speed is faster for children, so the recommended bite intervals are shorter for them.
However, children with properly spaced primary (baby) teeth without cavities do not need a dental x-ray. Older children with a low propensity for tooth decay may spend 18 months to three years between a bite x-ray. People at higher risk may need them more often. Bites and other dental x-rays have their place; there is a risk of not taking them.
X-rays help dentists see cavities, gum disease, the position of teeth still below the gum line, and other dental conditions that aren't visible to the naked eye. Other types of dental and orthodontic images, such as full mouth, full head, panographs or 3D cone beam computed tomography, reveal more. But dentists tend to abuse them. Friedman, a dentist who advises Consumer Reports on dental problems, has been warning about the excessive use of dental imaging since the 1970s.
Other x-rays used for orthodontic treatments, wisdom tooth extraction and implants, such as cephalographs (lateral radiography of the skull and jaws) or 3D cone beam computed tomography, are not routinely needed, according to Dr. A study found that, while X-ray images increase orthodontists' confidence in their diagnoses and treatment plans, the vast majority of plans are made before they are seen. All x-rays can be harmful, although the radiation dose of bites is relatively low. Of all the medical radiation patients receive, dental x-rays account for less than 3 percent.
But radiation damage is cumulative. Every x-ray increases the risk of damage that can cause cancer. An unnecessary bite or other dental x-ray is unnecessary damage. The scan confers the same radiation dose as six traditional dental x-rays, with only limited tests of greater diagnostic or treatment value than images with lower radiation.
While dental x-rays emit a relatively low dose of radiation compared to other medical images, a study of more than 2,700 patients seemed to find a link with an increased risk of intracranial meningioma, the most common form of brain tumor (when radiation exposure from x-rays was higher). which in the current era). Patients with a tumor were twice as likely as patients without one to have had a bitten x-ray. A limitation of the study is that its findings were based on patients' recall of dental x-rays, not on more objective medical data, which are not available.
However, the study is consistent with earlier, smaller studies that documented an increased risk of tumors associated with dental x-rays. For the most part, a general dentist will recommend x-rays once a year. Most patients, whether children or adults, will have two routine visits per year. They are usually extended to fall every six months.
During one of these checkups, x-rays are usually required to check the general condition of the teeth, jaw, and bone underneath. The American Dental Association recommends going to the dentist twice a year (i.e., every 6 months). While a general dentist requires x-rays approximately once a year, there are a few other factors that may justify the need for an x-ray. The type of x-ray you need, your location and your dentist's experience influence your dental costs.
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