Digital X-Rays
About a third of each tooth sits below the gumline, and the surfaces between your teeth are invisible from any angle. Digital X-rays show us that hidden two-thirds, using a fraction of the radiation older film systems required.
Digital X-rays in Northridge, CA
Traditional dental X-rays used film that had to be chemically developed, which meant waiting, guessing at exposure, and retaking images that came out poorly. Digital sensors replaced all of that, and the practical differences matter to you as a patient.
Significantly less radiation
Digital sensors need far less exposure than film to produce a usable image. That reduction is what makes these a safer choice for children, and for adults who need imaging more than once a year.
Instant images
The image appears on screen within seconds. No developing, no waiting, and if a retake is needed we know immediately rather than after you have gone home.
You can see what we see
Images display on a monitor beside you at a size you can actually read. When we point to a shadow between two teeth and explain what it means, you are looking at the same thing we are.
Easy to compare over time
Digital images are stored and pulled up side by side with previous ones. A small shadow that has not changed in four years reads very differently from one that appeared since your last visit.
What an X-ray shows that an exam cannot
A visual exam covers the surfaces we can see and reach. Imaging covers everything else, and that is where a surprising share of dental problems begin.
Decay between teeth
The contact points where two teeth touch are hidden from view and hard to reach with a brush. Cavities frequently start there, and X-rays are usually the only way to catch them before they spread.
Bone loss
Advanced gum disease destroys the bone anchoring your teeth. That loss is measurable on an X-ray well before teeth start feeling loose, which is what makes early periodontal treatment possible.
Infection at the root tip
An abscess forming at the base of a root shows up as a dark area on the image. Many are found this way before the patient feels anything at all.
Impacted teeth
Wisdom teeth and other teeth that have not erupted properly can push against neighbors and cause damage out of sight. Imaging shows their position and angle, which determines whether they need removing.
Problems under existing work
Decay can develop beneath an old filling or crown where nothing looks wrong from the outside. X-rays catch these before the restoration fails outright.
We take X-rays when they will tell us something we cannot learn by looking, based on your history and risk factors, not automatically at every visit. If you are new to the practice, we usually take a full set once to establish a baseline.
Frequently asked questions about dental X-rays
Digital X-rays use significantly less radiation than the film systems they replaced, and we only take them when they will tell us something useful. We also use protective shielding. For most patients the exposure from routine dental imaging is very small.
It depends on your history rather than a fixed schedule. Patients with frequent cavities or active gum disease need imaging more often than someone with a stable, healthy mouth. New patients usually have a full set taken once to establish a baseline.
Tell us if you are pregnant or think you might be. We generally postpone routine imaging during pregnancy, though X-rays may still be taken with proper shielding if there is a dental emergency where the information is necessary for your care.
Yes, and the lower radiation of digital imaging is part of why. Children's teeth are still developing, so imaging also helps us track how permanent teeth are coming in and whether there is enough room for them.
Yes. Because the images are digital, they are simple to share with you or send to another provider if you need a second opinion or are moving practices. Just ask our front desk.
Have questions about imaging? Ask us.
Find out what is actually going on
Schedule an exam and get a clear, honest picture of your oral health.
Find out what is actually going on
Schedule an exam and get a clear, honest picture of your oral health.