Dental radiography is a useful dental investigation for diagnosing many diseases and planning treatment. This intervention is simple, cheap and safe in the last decades. Dental radiography presents a 2D, black and white image, which distinguishes soft (radiotransparent) structures from hard (radiopaque) structures.
Opaque structures include: natural teeth, healthy bone, but also foreign solid substances: various incrustations or prosthetic works, dental facets, crowns, dental implants and obturations, as well as foreign bodies, instrument fragments etc. Air, fluids, tumor formations are radiotransparent, they appear dark on radiography. An experienced dentist knows perfectly how the X-ray of healthy teeth should look. Because of the changes seen on the X-ray, the doctor can certainly make a diagnosis that would not have been so certain without this investigation.
When is the dental x-ray indicated?
There are two types of situations where a dental radiography is recommended: to choose a concrete diagnosis from several options with similar symptoms and to plan a treatment properly.
To establish the diagnosis of dental x-ray is indicated in case of:
– acute toothache (risk of purulent infection in the pulp chamber);
– dental pain after endodontic treatment (lasting over 2 weeks and growing in intensity) or dental pain after a simple obturation;
– complicated caries (risk of pulp injury, deep infections);
– dental cracks, trauma;
– suspicion of granulomas, cysts, tumors;
– suspicion of infections of the sinuses, which could affect the teeth.
To effectively plan dental treatment, dental x-ray is indicated in case of:
– advanced periodontitis, bone resorption;
– unsuccessful history of endodontic treatment (detection of a recurrence of infection or of fragments of instruments in the channels);
– for planning of orthodontic treatment (detection of supernumerary teeth, teeth impregnated in soft tissue);
– to plan the insertion of a dental implant or to create an ergonomic dental crown.
Is dental X-ray strictly required?
When required by a dentist, surely. Experienced doctors indicate the X-ray only when it is really needed and provide information that can’t be received by other methods, such as simple inspection and anamnestic analysis. Dental radiography made with modern appliances is absolutely safe for health and brings only benefits. A safe diagnosis means a planned, well-targeted, much shorter and cheaper intervention.
What types of dental radiography are used more frequently in dental clinics in Moldova?
The most commonly used are visualization, orthopanthomography, computer tomography.
Visiography allows you to instantly view the images obtained on your computer. It is a fast diagnostic method, it also has the advantage that it allows the digital storage of the images obtained from a patient and the monitoring of the evolution (using a database).
Orthopanthomography or panoramic radiography is an image of teeth, jaw and surrounding tissues. It is often indicated in children because it reduces considerably (by about 60%) the radiation dose and changes the geometry of the image so that the permanent tooth buds can be seen.
Computer tomography also has a higher price, being indicated less frequently and only when strictly necessary – when looking at the forms of the sinuses, the roots of the nerves or when preparing the patient for an implant.
Dental radiography is a simple, pain-free, multilateral and practically risk-free intervention. Modern technology has lowered the radiation dose below that received from the surrounding medium (a common day spent outside brings a double dose). A modern radiography reduces treatment costs and the number of visits to the dentist needed to solve a problem. Whenever you need this investigation, we are waiting for you at Imperial Dent – a wonderful dental clinic in Chisinau, Moldova.