How Often Do You Need New Oral Images?

Posted on 6/25/2019 by Robert Henshaw, DMD

There are lots of things you need to do to maintain good oral health. People talk about following good oral hygiene habits if you want to have healthy teeth and gums. The most common habits they talk about are brushing and flossing every day and seeing the dentist regularly.

You may wonder what it means to see a dentist regularly and what they should do during those visits. One question to ask is if they need to get new oral images every time you visit the dentist.

What Are Oral Images?

When most people hear the term oral images, they think that means x-rays. They do not realize that there are many different types of x-rays. While all x-rays and oral images help the dental professional see what is happening inside the mouth, teeth and gums, that does not mean they are the same. Oral images fall into one of two categories.

•	Intraoral x-rays - These images show different aspects of the teeth. They include bitewing, periapical and occlusal x-rays.
•	Extraoral x-rays - These can help detect problems in the jaw and skull. They include panoramic x-rays, dental CT, digital imaging and MRI imaging.

The decision about what type of oral images to use depends on how healthy a person is and if the dental professional suspects a specific problem.

When to Get Oral Images

The recommendation for seeing a dental professional is twice a year. While that means heading to the office twice a year, that does not mean there is a need to get oral images done at every visit. Getting new images depends on a few different factors.

•	Age - Children's teeth change faster than adult's teeth. It is more important for a child to get a new set of images because of the sped they grow. The teeth and gums are constantly changing, and x-rays are needed at almost every visit.
•	Good Oral Health - people that have good habits and that do not have any problems do not need oral images as often. Adults should still visit twice a year, but they may only need new oral images every 18 months to 2 years.
•	Oral Health problems - if a person has any oral health issues, they will need oral images more often. It is important to follow the progress of any treatment for the oral health issues a person faces and that could mean new images at every visit.

Oral images are one of the best tools a dental professional has. Making sure they are up to date and accurate. That helps a person maintain the healthiest teeth and gums possible.

For more information about this or any other question you have concerning your oral health, contact our offices.

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