Justifications for dental radiographs

• Main Author: Ghazali, Ahmad Badruddin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Microcredential @ IIUM 2023
• Subjects: RK Dentistry
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/108899/13/108899_Justifications%20for%20dental%20radiographs.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/108899/; https://microcredential.iium.edu.my/2023/justifications-for-dental-radiographs/

Dental radiographs, commonly known as dental X-rays, play a crucial role in dentistry for several reasons: 1. Detection of Dental Issues: Radiographs allow dentists to see beyond what's visible to the naked eye. They help identify the presence and depth of cavities, tooth decay, and issues beneath the gum line like abscesses, cysts, or impacted teeth. These conditions might not be visible during a routine clinical examination but can be detected early through X-rays. 2. Assessment of Tooth and Bone Health: They provide valuable information about the health of your teeth and jawbone. Dentists use them to evaluate the bone level, which is essential for assessing periodontal disease and bone loss. 3. Treatment Planning: Dental X-rays aid in planning various dental treatments. They are essential for a number of procedures such as root canals, complicated tooth extractions, dental implants, and orthodontic treatments. They allow dentists to visualize the structure of the teeth and surrounding bone, helping them determine the best course of action for each one of the cases. 4. Preventive Care: Regular X-rays can help prevent future dental problems by identifying issues in their early stages. Early detection often leads to more conservative and less invasive treatments. 5. Follow up after treatment: They serve as a benchmark for comparison during follow-up visits. Dentists can compare current X-rays with previous ones to track changes in your oral health, making it easier to identify any developments or deterioration. 6. Forensic cases: Dental radiographs can be a crucial tool in forensic odontology. The post-mortem radiographs can be compared with ante-mortem radiographs for unknown victim identification, or there are several methods to estimate age from dental radiographs. While the benefits of dental X-rays are undeniable, the amount and frequency of X-rays should be carefully justified based on individual needs and risks. Dentists typically follow guidelines to minimize radiation exposure, using protective measures to reduce the radiation dose to the patients, availability of low-dose equipment to ensure patient safety while obtaining necessary diagnostic information.