I’ve been told I need X-rays at the dental office, but I refused them. Why do they need X-rays, anyway?
X-rays are an important part of diagnosing problems in your mouth because they can show problems the dentist can’t see. There are many conditions that can be seen on an X-ray before they can be seen in the mouth, including decay, silent abscesses, bone loss and some tumors.
An X-ray allows the dentist to see decay in between the teeth, so that cavities can be prevented or caught before they get very large. X-rays can also pick up inflammation around the tooth root, which can signal a silent abscess. This allows the dentist to treat the problem before it hurts, does more damage or makes you sick.
X-rays can also catch root re-sorption, which is when a tooth gets a hole in the root. The earlier it is caught, the re-sorption process can be stopped and reduce the risk of losing the tooth.
Discuss with your dentist whether the timing can be extended in some low-risk cases. Being able to diagnosis and treat these conditions early on would obviously be an advantage, so it’s important to stay on schedule with X-rays.