What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

• If you cannot stay still or hold the X-ray plastic or cardboard in your teeth.
• If you have braces, retainers, dentures, bridges, and certain body piercings ( ear, tongue, lip, cheek, or nose).

What To Think About

• Dental X-ray equipment is safe and uses very little radiation. States often have strict regulations and inspection procedures to check the safety of X-rays and X-ray equipment. Oral health professionals are taught to take high-quality X-rays with a small amount of radiation exposure to you.
• If you are going to a new dentist, have your other dentist send copies of your dental X-rays to your new dentist. You may not need any more X-rays with your new dentist.
• The following U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) dental X-ray guidelines are for people who have no tooth decay and are not at high risk of getting cavities:
  • Adults should have bitewing X-rays every 2 to 3 years.
  • Teens should have bitewing X-rays every 1½ to 3 years.
  • Children should have bitewing X-rays every 1 to 2 years.
• The following FDA guidelines are for people who have tooth decay or are at high risk of getting cavities:
  • Adults should have bitewing X-rays every 1 to 1½ years.
  • Teens should have bitewing X-rays every 6 to 12 months until no tooth decay is seen.
  • Children should have bitewing X-rays every 6 months until no tooth decay is seen.
• Many dentists think that all adults should have a panoramic X-ray every 2 to 5 years to check for mouth and teeth problems.
• Some dentists use digital radiography. This method uses an electronic sensor instead of X-ray film. An electronic image is taken and stored in a computer. This image can be viewed on a computer screen. Less radiation is needed to make an image with digital radiography than with standard dental X-rays.

Other Works Consulted

• Fejerskov O, Kidd E (2003). Dental Caries: The Disease and Its Clinical Management. Oxford: Blackwell Munksgaard.

• Harris NO, Garcia-Godoy F, eds. (2004). Primary Preventive Dentistry, 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.