2 Common Types of Dental X-Rays

These days, the dentists are using digital radiology to get clear, picture-perfect images of patient’s teeth and infected areas. This is an efficient way to find benign masses, malignant masses, and hidden structures in the bone and cavities that cannot be seen with a naked eye examination. Regardless to say, digital radiology is very useful and safe, and you will have nothing to worry about.

Even though most dentists are not using the old x-ray machines for dental x-rays anymore, there are still some dentists who are more partial to it. Nevertheless, two main types of digital radiology are being used these days in dental clinics. The types are:

  • Intra-oral X-rays
  • Extra-oral X-rays

Intra-Oral X-Rays:

Intra-Oral X-Ray is the most common kind of x-rays and is very clear and compelling. The dentists mostly use it to find the hidden cavities, to look at the condition of the root canal, to monitor the developing teeth, and to check the status of the bone surrounding your tooth. However, more than that, this type of X-ray is mostly used to test the health and disease of your jawbone and teeth. This helps the dentist in finding the problem at the right time and stops it from spreading further.

Extra-Oral X-Rays:

This type of dental x-rays is used to check the condition of the teeth. These are not as detailed as the intra-oral x-rays, so they are not suitable for finding cavities and other individual teeth ailments. It is majorly used to look at the development of your jaw, monitor tooth growth, and this x-ray is perfect for finding problems between your teeth and your jaw.

These problems cannot be found with an Intra-oral X-ray, so this is your only way to find them out and have them fixed. There are further subtypes of these two x-ray types. However, as long as you have the right dentist, you will not have to worry about anything. The dentist will be capable enough to guide you well.