In the treatment of dental diseases, it is important to make an accurate diagnosis. This is done using x-rays. Diagnosis allows you to get accurate information about pathologies. X-ray of the teeth helps to compose the entire clinical picture and find out the anatomical features of the structure of the jaw. This is necessary to complete the treatment. Details of this procedure are presented in the article.
When performed?
External examination conducted by the dentist at the reception does not always help to accurately determine the cause of the pathology. An X-ray machine is used to determine the diagnosis and method of treatment. The procedure must be carried out:
- with an abnormal position of the dental composition;
- hidden cavity due to caries;
- periodontal disease;
- pathologies that occur under fillings or crowns;
- injury to the internal tissues of the tooth or jaw;
- neoplasms or abscesses;
- implant placement.
Resultsdiagnostics can facilitate the work of the doctor, allowing you to accurately determine how the therapy should be performed. Dental x-rays may be performed in the presence of other diseases to determine their course.
Features
Many procedures that require penetration into the tooth or gum cannot be performed without diagnosis. A picture is taken to determine the condition of bone tissue, roots, in the presence of caries. X-ray of the teeth allows you to determine the condition of the soft tissues inside the gums, to establish the likely inflammation and cracks in the canals.
The event will help to accurately determine the area where procedures are required to eliminate the pathology. The doctor does not need to perform unnecessary actions that cause pain or can lead to complications. Therefore, for the treatment to be effective, an x-ray of the teeth is necessary.
During pregnancy
Physicians should not prescribe diagnostic measures to women in the 1st trimester of pregnancy. After this period, an x-ray (picture) of the teeth can be performed only if necessary, when it cannot be treated without it. To reduce radiation exposure, specialists use a special film (E-class). X-ray of a tooth during pregnancy is desirable to perform a digital method. It is not harmful to woman and child.
Can I take an X-ray of a tooth while breastfeeding? This procedure is allowed. Since the dose of radiation is small, and breast milk does not accumulate radiation, and therefore the baby's body is not endangered.
Little patients
Photographs of milk teeth are performed extremely rarely, only with complexpathologies. The procedure allows you to eliminate violations that affect the formation of the dental composition. X-rays of a child's teeth should be performed with the lowest dose of radiation.
Before this procedure, children are protected with a special apron made with lead particles. You can reduce the negative impact of the device by performing a digital study.
Frequency of procedures
How often can these activities be performed? This is established by SanPiN 2.6.1.1192-03. The regulation establishes a maximum radiation dose for prevention and treatment. How often x-rays can be taken is determined by the equipment.
The safest method is digital examination of the state of dental tissues. It is rarely necessary to carry out the procedure on a film apparatus. Each procedure has a negative effect on the body, so it should be performed only when necessary. The dose of radiation should not exceed 1000 microsieverts per year. This applies to preventive examinations. With treatment, the norm is greater.
Recommendations
X-rays are harmful to the body. It will be possible to reduce the risk by choosing a good clinic where modern equipment works. It is not necessary to refuse an x-ray of milk teeth in children or during pregnancy. If a dentist prescribes such a diagnosis, then it is required.
If you refuse to take an X-ray of the tooth, the treatment becomes more complicated, and there is also a risk of serious complications. Correct performance of the procedure and the use of new technologies will help to reduce the dose of radiation exposure and obtain an accurateoral he alth information.
Types of study
Recently, radiography has been used frequently. The reason for this is the creation of devices that allow you to get pictures quickly and accurately. Therefore, treatment is faster and patients experience less discomfort.
Diagnosis is performed using old and new technology. Depending on the device used, there are 4 types of X-rays:
- Bitey. Allows you to detect caries and tartar.
- Aimed. Determines the internal condition of the teeth and gums.
- Panoramic. An X-ray of this type of teeth provides information about the general condition of the jaw.
- Digital. With it, you can make a clear image of an individual tooth or dental composition.
3D X-ray is considered a new type of diagnostics. With this research method, a panoramic, or three-dimensional, image is created that is displayed on a computer monitor. After processing, the doctor receives an accurate picture. In order to avoid the need to re-diagnose, the examination must be carried out according to the established rules. Moreover, they must be observed not only by the medical worker, but also by the patient.
Preparation
To properly x-ray your teeth, you must follow basic rules. Before the event, you must remove jewelry that is on the face, head or neck. Metal parts may cause pictures to be distorted or “shadow” to be displayed. As a result, this will complicate the work of the dentist, and the person will need to undergodiagnosis again.
Examination
Where to take an x-ray of the teeth? This procedure can be performed in any hospital that treats dental diseases. Radiography is performed according to the established scheme, but depending on the device used, the process may differ. Usually the procedure is carried out as follows:
- The human body is covered with a special apron.
- The patient needs to go inside the device.
- You need to bite down on the plastic stick.
- Lips should be closed.
- Chest should be pressed against the platform.
A person needs to stand straight. Sometimes you need to turn your head to get an image of a particular area. Then they take a picture. Now you know how a dental x-ray is performed (see photo below).
Image analysis
After the picture is taken, the dentist will interpret the x-ray. Image analysis is based on knowledge of which tissues are capable of transmitting X-rays. White spots are fillings and crowns, foci of inflammation are dark. And the natural tissues of the teeth and gums are gray in color. To compare, an x-ray of a he althy tooth, which has a natural cavity, with a nerve is needed.
With decryption by the doctor, the following information will be received:
- localization of caries;
- shape and arrangement of roots;
- dentin, enamel and periodontal condition.
With the help of x-rays it will be possible to solve manyProblems. Based on it, the location and depth of carious lesions of the teeth are determined. Also, the procedure allows you to identify fractures in the jaw. X-rays establish erupting but not yet surfaced teeth.
Thanks to the procedure, it will be possible to determine the wrong bite and other deviations with teeth, gums, roots. The pictures show the accumulation of pus and inflammation. According to them, doctors determine irregularities and unnatural deviations in the mouth. X-ray is needed during the removal of the nerve. With it, the doctor checks how well the canal has been cleaned.
Modern methods
Today, not the classical X-ray method is popular, but cone-beam computed tomography and visiography. These methods are in demand because of the safety and ease of use. But still, the quality of classic images is higher than the results of CPCT and visiography.
Harm
Radiation is considered harmful to the body. But the development of ailments is observed only with a huge dose of radiation. X-ray of the tooth has an effect in small doses, which cannot lead to pathological processes.
If in doubt, you can consult a doctor. But you need to consider how important the diagnosis is and what problems may appear if you refuse it.
Ionizing radiation after passing through the human body leads to some reactions:
- protein structure changes;
- tissue molecules are ionized;
- accelerates the aging of cells, disturbed the normal course of maturation of new ones;
- temporarilythe composition of the blood changes.
These processes can lead to various diseases, so it is important to follow safety rules during the procedure. Special aprons are worn to protect the organs. And specialists should control the dose and time of exposure. The shorter the study, the less harm there will be. In dentistry, x-rays are performed on a device that synthesizes low-energy beams, and the procedure lasts a few seconds, so the event is considered harmless.
Contraindications
Many people are comfortable with going to the dentist, as the examination and treatment do not cause much inconvenience. But there are a lot of prejudices about x-rays. Some have concerns about its radioactivity. Radiologists say that getting radiation sickness is unrealistic.
The doctor evaluates all cases individually. If possible, it is better for pregnant women to treat their teeth after childbirth. But by the 2nd trimester, x-rays will be safe. Using a special apron will protect you from harmful effects. A contraindication to the procedure is bleeding in the oral cavity, severe or unconscious patient.
Difficulties
It is often difficult to take a picture due to the fact that the body has lost contrast. The reasons for this may be as follows:
- A granuloma, abscess or cyst has appeared in a certain area of the jaw.
- There was a radicular cyst.
- Improper filling of canals or filling material used that illuminatessnapshot.
- Cementoma is observed.
Cementoma usually occurs in women. It occurs as a consequence of an apical lesion. At the beginning of the disease, it will still be possible to recognize the disease, but after 6 months the image is blurred, loses contrast, and it will not be possible to accurately determine the disease.
Abscess results in poor image quality. It usually appears in children. The reason for this is that the child takes foreign things into his mouth, which can damage the gums. Gradually, pus accumulates in this area. If an abscess appeared in our milk teeth, then nothing can be revealed with an x-ray. There will be a dark spot. But you can visually determine the external abscess. Then the x-ray is not needed. But first, you need to eliminate the pus, give time for the restoration of the gum tissue, and then take the picture.
Cost
The price of the procedure is determined by several factors. The device used for x-rays is important. The cost is determined by the type of image, the area of study and the medical institution. The average price is 250-1500 rubles.
X-ray is considered an important measure in the diagnosis of dental ailments. Without research, it is not always possible to perform high-quality therapy. And with him, the doctor will make the necessary diagnosis and prescribe an effective treatment.
