Dental X-Rays in Kitchener

A lot of patients ask a fair question when we suggest x-rays: “Do I really need them today?” It’s a good thing to ask. At Highland Kitchener Dentist we don’t take dental x-rays on autopilot. We take them when they’ll tell us something we can’t see during an exam, and we space them out based on your own risk. This page explains what x-rays show, the main types you might have at our Kitchener office, how the radiation compares to everyday life and how we decide on timing for you or your kids.

What x-rays show that eyes can’t

During an exam we can see the visible surfaces of your teeth and gums. That’s maybe a third of what matters. The rest is hidden between teeth, under old fillings, below the gumline and inside the jawbone. X-rays, also called radiographs, let us look at those areas.

Things we commonly find on x-rays include:

• Cavities between teeth, which often can’t be seen or felt until they’re large
• Decay forming underneath existing fillings or crowns
• Bone loss from gum disease
• Infections or abscesses at the tip of a root
• Cracks, root problems or worn down fillings
• Wisdom teeth that are impacted or coming in at an angle
• Extra or missing teeth in children, and how adult teeth are developing
• Cysts and other unusual changes in the jaw, which are rare but important to catch

Finding these early usually means a smaller, simpler fix. A small cavity between two molars might need a modest filling. Left until it hurts, it may need a root canal and a crown.

Types of dental x-rays

Bitewings

These are the x-rays most adults get at checkups. You bite gently on a small holder, and each image shows the crowns of your upper and lower back teeth on one side. Bitewings are the best way to spot cavities between teeth and to check bone levels around them. Most people have two or four taken at a time.

Periapical x-rays

A periapical image shows one or two teeth from the tip of the crown to the end of the root. We use these when a tooth hurts, when we suspect an infection, or before and after treatments like root canals.

Panoramic x-rays

For this one you stand still while the machine travels around your head. The result is a single wide image of both jaws, all your teeth, the joints in front of your ears and the sinuses. It’s useful for checking wisdom teeth, planning implants or orthodontics, and getting an overall picture for new patients.

Full mouth series

A full mouth series is a set of bitewings and periapicals that together show every tooth from crown to root. It’s often taken for new adult patients or every several years, especially for people with a history of gum disease.

Radiation and how often you need them

How much radiation is involved

Dental x-rays use a very small dose of radiation, much lower than most medical imaging. To put it in context, everyone is exposed to natural background radiation every day from the ground, the air and even food. A set of bitewings is roughly comparable to what you’d pick up from a day or so of normal life, or a short flight. Digital x-ray systems, which are now common in dentistry, need even less exposure than older film.

How we keep exposure low

• We only take x-rays when there’s a clear reason
• We aim the beam only at the area we need to see
• We use a lead or lead equivalent apron or thyroid collar where it’s appropriate
• We look at previous images first so we don’t repeat anything unnecessarily
• We’ll request recent x-rays from your previous dentist if you’ve just moved to Kitchener

How often you’ll need them

There’s no single schedule for everyone. The interval depends on your age, your cavity history, your gum health and any symptoms. As a rough guide:

• Adults with healthy teeth and few cavities may need bitewings every two to three years
• Adults with frequent cavities or gum disease may need them yearly or more often
• Children often need bitewings more frequently than adults, because their teeth are changing and decay can progress faster in baby teeth
• Anyone with pain, swelling or a suspected problem may need an image on the day

X-rays during pregnancy

Routine x-rays are usually postponed during pregnancy simply to be cautious. If you have a dental emergency, like an infection or severe pain, a single targeted x-ray with proper shielding is considered safe and can be important for treating you properly. Always tell us if you are or might be pregnant.

X-rays for children

Parents understandably want to keep their kids’ exposure as low as possible, and so do we. Children’s x-rays are taken only when they’ll help. They let us check for cavities between baby molars, see whether adult teeth are developing normally and catch crowding early. Because children are smaller, we use settings suited to their size.

What to expect at your appointment

Taking x-rays is quick. We’ll place a small sensor or holder in your mouth, ask you to bite or hold still for a second, and take the image. If you have a strong gag reflex, let us know. Breathing through your nose, focusing on wiggling your toes or starting with the front teeth usually helps. Once the images are ready, we’re happy to go through them with you and point out anything we’ve noticed.

How to read your own x-rays

Patients are often curious when we put their images up, so here’s a quick guide. On a dental x-ray, denser materials show up lighter. Enamel is the brightest part of a natural tooth, the inner dentin is a little greyer and the nerve canal in the middle is darker. Metal fillings and crowns look bright white, while tooth coloured fillings can look anywhere from white to grey depending on the material.

Decay shows up as a darker shadow where there should be solid tooth, often a small wedge just under the contact point between two teeth. Bone around the roots looks like a fine grey honeycomb. When we talk about bone loss from gum disease, we’re comparing how high that bone sits against where it should be. An infection at the tip of a root often appears as a dark halo. Not every dark area is a problem, though, which is why the images are always read together with what we see in your mouth.

When you might need an x-ray outside a checkup

Most x-rays happen at routine visits, but some are taken because of a specific concern. These include a tooth that hurts when you bite, swelling in the gum or face, a tooth that’s been knocked or chipped in an accident, or planning for a procedure like an extraction, implant or root canal. In these cases a single targeted image is usually all that’s needed.

Digital x-rays at our Kitchener office

Our practice is fully digital. Instead of film, a small sensor captures the image and sends it straight to a screen in the treatment room, so there’s no waiting for anything to develop. For panoramic views we use an ortho-panoramic unit that circles around your head and shows all your teeth and both jaws in one picture.

Going digital makes a practical difference for patients:

• Less radiation. Digital sensors need a lower dose than traditional film for the same image.
• You see what we see. We can enlarge the image, adjust the contrast and point out a shadow between two teeth or the tip of a root while you’re still in the chair.
• Easy comparisons. Your images are stored in your digital patient file, so we can line up this year’s x-ray with last year’s and spot small changes early.
• Simple sharing. If you need a specialist, or you’re moving, the images can be sent electronically instead of copied.

Alongside x-rays, our team uses an intraoral camera, a small wand that takes close-up photos of individual teeth. Between the two, it’s much easier to understand what’s going on in your mouth and why we’re recommending a particular treatment.

X-ray questions

Can I refuse x-rays?

You always have the right to decline. We’ll explain what we’d be looking for and what could be missed without them, so you can make an informed choice.

Can you send my x-rays to a specialist?

Yes. If you’re referred to an oral surgeon, orthodontist or other specialist, we can share your images so you don’t need new ones.

Do I need x-rays if nothing hurts?

Often, yes. Most cavities and gum problems are painless in the early stages. Finding them before they hurt is the whole point.

Book your checkup in Kitchener

If it’s been a while since your last x-rays or you have questions about whether you need them, we’re glad to talk it through. Highland Kitchener Dentist is at 140 Highland Rd W in Kitchener. Call 519-885-1598 to book an appointment.

Related treatments

• Dental exams and cleanings
• Gum disease diagnosis

Questions or ready to book? Contact our Kitchener office or call 519-885-1598.