Digital Dental X-Rays in Washington, D.C.

Digital dental x-rays or dental radiographs are done with an annual dental examination to provide a more thorough picture of your oral health. Dental x-rays allow our dental team to diagnose issues that aren't easily visible and to understand more about your oral health by showing the inside of your teeth, gums, and jaw. Many dental and oral conditions may be seen on dental x-rays, including tooth decay, cavities, abscesses, cysts, bone loss, and tooth impaction. When these conditions are discovered in the early stages, they may have more treatment options that are less invasive. During your annual exam at Chang & Rothkopf Dental in Washington, D.C., digital dental x-rays will help our team more accurately diagnose and treat dental issues.

Digital x-rays administered at Chang & Rothkopf Dental in Washington, DC are a fantastic modern tool that allows our patients to know about any issues or conditions affecting their oral health. Benefits of digital x-rays include:

• Emitting less radiation than traditional x-rays
• Providing high-resolution images
• Allowing better diagnosis of issues with the gums, teeth, and mouth
• More comfortable than traditional x-rays
• Safer for the environment
• Only takes a few minutes
• Images can be sent to any other care provider within seconds

Typically, digital dental x-rays are included in a routine dental examination. Digital dental x-rays may be administered for prevention or if you are concerned about dental issues of any kind. Though digital dental x-rays emit less radiation compared to traditional dental x-rays, Chang & Rothkopf Dental likes to limit each patient's exposure. Although they are typically safe for any patient, women who are breastfeeding or pregnant should tell our team at the start of their appointment so extra cautionary steps can be taken.

Typically performed at the beginning of a dental cleaning or exam, digital dental imaging takes about 5 – 10 minutes to complete. Many patients will get a set of dental x-rays to show all areas of the mouth. After they are finished, they are uploaded and can be viewed by you and your dentist during your examination. Your Chang & Rothkopf Dental practitioner will be able to assess if there are any areas of concern and review treatment options.

A set of digital dental images will usually be performed once a year at your annual dental examination. During certain visits, a whole mouth set may be performed for a complete view of your teeth, gums, and jaw. Your digital dental x-rays will be stored with your file at Chang & Rothkopf Dental so your dentist can identify changes over time and address any developing problems.

Will digital dental x-rays expose me to any harmful radiation?
No. Digital x-rays still use a bit of radiation, but it is a minuscule amount compared to what is considered harmful. In fact, digital x-rays use even less radiation than the traditional, film-based x-rays you may have experienced at a younger age.

Why are digital dental x-rays preferable to traditional x-rays?
In addition to decreased radiation levels, digital x-rays provide instant imaging, are more comfortable for the patient, and feature imaging at very high resolution. This improved imaging makes it easier for dentists to explain oral health conditions and treatments to the patient because they are seeing a more in-depth view than was possible in previous years.

Will I have to get digital x-rays done at every visit or cleaning?
Probably not. Most CK Dental & Associates patients will receive digital dental x-rays once yearly. However, some conditions or past dental work may necessitate x-rays at more frequent intervals so our Washington, DC dentists can monitor how your mouth may have changed.

Dental x-rays are a useful technology that can help diagnose and treat oral health conditions. As part of an annual dental exam, they can give our dental professionals an in-depth understanding that allows us to see hidden problems to be addressed before becoming painful. For improved dental health, contact our team in Washington, D.C., to schedule your next dental exam with digital dental x-rays.