How Often Should You Get Dental X-Rays?

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DENTAL NEWS
Dental x-rays are perhaps the most valuable tool a dentist has in their battle to keep your teeth and gums healthy. But no matter how good one's dental insurance coverage is, no one can afford to get x-rays every week to say nothing of the inconvenience such a regiment would incur.

So exactly how often should X-rays be done on your teeth? The answer depends on your dental history as some people, like those with chronic dental problems, may need X-rays every six months while others who visit the dentist regularly and have excellent oral health may need X-rays only every three years or so.

To see if you or your family members should get regular dental X-rays (i.e. every 6-12 months), follow these guidelines as they are based on information from both the American Dental Association and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Those who need frequent X-rays are;

* Children & Teenagers - Children and teens at high risk of decay and those who have a history of many cavities, may need X-rays every six months or every year, depending on age. X-rays also help to keep track of tooth development.

* Adults With Many Fillings, Crowns, Bridges or Other Restorations - X-rays help the dentist find decay beneath your fillings and crowns or in new locations.

* People With Periodontal (Gum) Disease - X-rays can reveal signs of bone loss. If this has happened, then periodontal or gum surgery may be needed.

* People With Dry Mouth (Xerostomia) - Saliva helps keep your mouth and teeth healthy by regulating the acid levels (pH) in the mouth. In a dry mouth, the pH decreases. This causes the minerals in the teeth to break down, resulting in more cavities. Many medicines can cause dry mouth. It also can be a result of cancer treatment or a long-term disease.

* Smokers - Smoking increases the risk of periodontal disease (as well as many, many other of health-related problems)

If you or a loved one falls into any of the five above categories, just remember that catching a dental problem while it's small and still in the early stages can prevent major (and costly) dental problems later on.