Part of a regular dental checkup and cleaning is to have our team take X-rays of your teeth. But have you ever wondered why they’re necessary? After all, if you have a cavity, the dentist is supposed to be able to spot it, right? That’s what they went to school for.
All joking aside, not every cavity is immediately visible, and cavities aren’t the only things that show up on a dental X-ray. There are several benefits that come from getting regular X-rays of your teeth. Let’s take a look at what a few of those are.
Cavity detection
Yes, the biggest benefit of a dental X-ray is how it helps Dr. Ryan Gilreath detect early cavities. With the high-quality images that a dental X-ray can produce, our dentists can quickly identify problem areas in your mouth that may turn into cavities if the proper preventive steps are not taken. By locating problem areas early on, you can stay on top of potential dental problems, saving you both time and a bit of discomfort down the road.
Tooth infection detection
If you have issues with the roots of your teeth – issues which commonly result in infection- then our team can also spot these issues on an X-ray. Dental infections can quickly lead to tooth death and tooth loss, which is why it is important to spot these problems as early as possible. Of course, if you have great oral health, then you really have nothing to worry about on that front.
At the end of the day, a dental X-ray may seem a little overkill at a regular checkup, but this short part of your visit is essential to helping you maintain a healthy smile. We hope that by seeing some of the benefits that our dental X-rays in Goose Creek, South Carolina, can provide will help you understand their need. For more information, call Goose Creek Family Dentistry today at 843-764-3081.