| This external view of your teeth is important, but | | | | As part of your regular dental checkup, we may |
| what's inside your teeth is even more important | | | | take x-rays. Different types of x-ray images help |
| to your overall health and the attractiveness of | | | | us to identify areas of decay, worn-out fillings, |
| your smile. | | | | cracks, tartar, periodontal disease, bone infections, |
| Many first impressions are formed by the | | | | impacted wisdom teeth, long or crooked roots, |
| whiteness and straightness of your teeth. This | | | | abscesses or cysts, problems with sinuses, or |
| external view of your teeth is important, but | | | | anything else that may appear unusual or |
| what's inside your teeth is even more important | | | | abnormal. |
| to your overall health and the attractiveness of | | | | Depending on your age and your dental health |
| your smile. | | | | situation, we may use different kinds of x-rays, |
| Your teeth: A complex set of layers | | | | including: |
| From the outside, each tooth looks like a solid | | | | - Bitewing x-rays: These are the most common |
| white object, but teeth actually are complex living | | | | type of x-rays. They capture images of your |
| tissues made up of several layers: | | | | upper and lower teeth above the gumline (the |
| 1. Enamel | | | | crowns) simultaneously. |
| 2. Dentin | | | | - Full series of x-rays: Using 18 different locations, |
| 3. Pulp | | | | these give us a complete picture of your mouth. |
| Enamel is the white, outermost layer of the tooth | | | | We often take a full series during your first visit |
| that covers the crown (the part of your tooth | | | | with us. |
| that you see, above the gumline). Enamel is the | | | | - Periapical x-rays: These give an excellent view |
| hardest substance in your body. It provides | | | | of your entire tooth, including the roots, any bone |
| strength for biting and chewing, and it protects | | | | loss, and cysts or abscesses. We may use these |
| the inner layers from plaque and bacteria that lead | | | | x-rays as a followup measure for monitoring your |
| to decay. | | | | teeth and jaw. |
| Dentin is the second, yellowish layer inside your | | | | - Panographic x-rays: These give us a complete |
| tooth. This hard tissue contains millions of tubules. | | | | picture of your entire mouth in one image, |
| Dentin is softer than enamel and provides support | | | | including wisdom teeth, the sinuses, and the |
| for it, acting like a shock absorber to take the | | | | jawbone. |
| impact of biting and chewing. When a cavity | | | | To ensure an accurate view, we may ask you to |
| develops, it breaks through the enamel and | | | | tie back synthetic hair braids or remove jewelry, |
| attacks the dentin. | | | | especially nose rings, mouth jewelry, or earrings |
| Pulp is the innermost layer, which includes the | | | | with large hoops. This is particularly important with |
| nerves and blood supply for a tooth. This soft | | | | panographic x-rays. |
| tissue reaches from the pulp chamber at the top | | | | Dental x-rays are safe, because our sensitive |
| of the tooth, down through the root canals in the | | | | x-ray equipment quickly and accurately targets |
| tooth roots. If decay reaches the pulp or root | | | | only a specific area of your mouth. Our highly |
| canals, a filling may not be sufficient to protect | | | | trained staff give you a lead apron and collar to |
| the strength and health of your tooth. | | | | provide additional protection. And our modern |
| The roots of your teeth (the parts of your teeth | | | | technology effectively minimizes the amount of |
| below the gumline) also contain blood vessels and | | | | radiation and how long you are exposed to it. |
| nerves that connect your teeth to the nerves | | | | Radiation from a dental x-ray is very low, not |
| and blood vessels of your jawbone. The roots are | | | | much more than the normal background radiation |
| covered with cementum. This extremely thin | | | | of everyday life (household appliances, minerals in |
| layer of tissue "cements" your teeth to the bone. | | | | the ground, ultraviolet rays from the sun, airplane |
| Disease and decay that reach the roots are | | | | travel or high altitudes, etc.). And the benefits of |
| extremely serious and painful. That's why it's | | | | using dental x-rays far outweigh the risks. |
| important for us to examine both the outsides | | | | Now that you've learned a bit about your teeth |
| and the insides of your teeth. | | | | from the inside out, we hope this will inspire you |
| X-rays: A safe view inside your teeth | | | | to take good care of them from the outside in! |