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Tooth X-ray, or x-ray or X-ray of the tooth, is a test that allows you to diagnose various diseases and inflammations developing inside the tooth and to accurately see and assess the structure of the dental roots (canals).
What is a tooth X-ray?
Tooth X-ray is an X-ray examination of the tooth using X-rays. On its basis, the condition of the teeth and bone tissue of the mandible as well as the jaw and the temporomandibular joint can be assessed. Tooth X-ray is most often used to determine the condition of the bones and tissues of individual teeth and tooth roots. The X-ray image of the tooth allows the doctor to see the internal structure of the tooth and decide on the appropriate treatment.
When should a tooth X-ray be performed?
The dentist recommends performing an X-ray of the tooth most often in the case of suspected advanced caries, in the absence of tooth buds and impacted teeth, in the case of suspected lesions and inflammations at the roots, in order to check the condition of the left roots, cysts and in the case of suspected neoplastic lesions. X-ray of the tooth is also recommended before the planned extraction, before root canal treatment and before prosthetic treatment (putting on dentures, crowns or bridges), and before placing implants and before placing an orthodontic appliance. X-ray of the teeth is also a test ordered in the event of a craniofacial injury – it allows to determine the size and nature of the damage. In some cases, the doctor will order a pantomographic examination of the teeth, which is also an X-ray, but covers the entire jaw and the mandibulo-temporal joints and maxillary sinuses, which are shown in one photo. An ordinary X-ray of a tooth is usually an X-ray of one tooth, or several (up to four in one photo). One of the less common indications for a tooth X-ray is the suspicion of salivary gland stones.
What can be diagnosed on the basis of a tooth X-ray?
The changes in the teeth caused by caries are visible in the X-ray of the tooth in the form of white spots. Tooth X-ray also allows you to see the condition of implants, tooth roots and to identify malocclusion, which is especially useful before orthodontic treatment. The X-ray image of the tooth also shows the soft tissues of the face and palate, which allows the diagnosis of possible lesions in these places.
How is the X-ray of the tooth done?
Two types of tooth X-ray examination are performed. The first is extraoral examination. It consists in placing small types of film in the patient’s mouth, holding it with a finger so that the X-ray image is not moved. The second type of X-ray of the tooth is an extraoral examination – these are pantomograms and layered images of the jaw, i.e. tomography. This type of X-ray of the teeth is more precise and allows for a more precise analysis and determination of possible changes. On the extraoral X-ray of teeth, you can see successive layers of tissue, which in some cases is very useful for the doctor. Before the X-ray examination of the tooth, the patient puts on a special protective apron made of lead rubber, which is impervious to X-rays. Tooth X-ray is usually done in a sitting position. X-ray of the pantomographic tooth is performed lying down. The examination takes a few minutes and is painless. You have to wait a dozen or so minutes for the results – as long as you need to develop the film. Spot tooth X-ray is slightly harmful. The pantomographic image shows all the teeth, so the level of X-ray radiation is correspondingly higher.