Patients often ask, Why are dental X-rays required each year when I go to the dentist? I don't like taking them so often. This is a common question we hear at a dental office. We follow the American Dental Association guidelines of standard of care for patients. This is in place because so much can change in the mouth in one year. Decay can develop on teeth, which can move rapidly through the tooth. This is not visible with the naked eye, but is visible on an X-ray. Not having annual X-rays can result in a cavity cracked tooth, tooth decay, root canals, and even tooth loss.

A set of four digital bitewing X-rays typically exposes a patient to about 0.005 millisieverts (mSv) of radiation. This amount is considered very minimal and is less than the natural radiation exposure from the environment in a single day. The damage that can result in not doing the X-rays can be quite costly if not diagnosed.

Every 6 months during your cleaning appointment, your dentist will come in and check your gums, old fillings, wear, and cavities. When these things are diagnosed early, the solution can remain quite minimal however, missing these appointments can leave you vulnerable to decay spreading.

The American Dental Association recommends that patients have an exam and cleaning twice a year if they do not have active periodontal disease, and X-rays annually.