Dental X-rays
A dental X-ray is a small picture of one or a few teeth and the bone around them. It shows what the dentist cannot see by looking, such as decay between teeth, infection at the root tip and bone levels. At Suman Dental Care we have a standard dental X-ray machine for these small X-rays, and each takes only a few minutes.
Step by step
- 1Decide if an X-ray is needed
The dentist examines you first and takes an X-ray only if it will help with diagnosis or treatment. Tell the dentist about any recent X-rays.
- 2Position the film or sensor
A small sensor or film is placed in your mouth beside the tooth. You bite gently on a holder to keep it still.
- 3Take the X-ray
The machine is aimed at the tooth, and the dentist steps away for a second or two while the picture is taken. You need to stay still.
- 4Look at the picture
The image appears and the dentist explains what it shows. A second picture may be taken from another angle.
- A tooth with pain, swelling or a gum boil
- Checking for decay between teeth or under old fillings
- Before, during or after root canal treatment, fillings or an extraction
- Checking the bone around teeth in gum disease, or before braces or implants
There is no recovery. You can carry on with your day straight away.
Dental X-rays use a very small amount of radiation. A single small X-ray of one or a few teeth gives a dose roughly equal to a day or less of the natural background radiation everyone receives from their surroundings. The dentist takes X-rays only when the benefit outweighs this small dose, and keeps the number to what you need.
If you are pregnant or think you might be, tell your dentist before any X-ray. Many dental X-rays can wait until after the baby is born, and urgent ones can be taken with the dentist's care.
Some problems are not seen on small X-rays. If a wider view of the jaws is needed, such as an OPG (whole-mouth) X-ray or a 3D CBCT scan, your dentist will tell you where to have it taken.
What affects the cost
We don't publish prices online. After an examination you get a written estimate that lists each item.
Payment by card, cash or UPI.
Questions patients ask
Are dental X-rays safe?
The dose from a small dental X-ray is very low, about a day or less of natural background radiation. Dentists take them only when needed and keep the number to a minimum.
I am pregnant. Can I have a dental X-ray?
Tell the dentist at the start. Routine X-rays are usually postponed until after the baby is born. If you have an urgent problem, the dentist will decide with you whether an X-ray is needed.
How often will I need X-rays?
It depends on your risk of decay and gum disease, so there is no fixed schedule. People with few problems need them less often than people who get cavities frequently.
Does the clinic take OPG or 3D scans?
The clinic takes standard dental X-rays of one or a few teeth. If a wider OPG or 3D CBCT scan is needed, your dentist will tell you where to have it taken.
Why can't the dentist see everything by looking?
Decay between teeth, under fillings and at the root tip lies out of sight. An X-ray shows these hidden areas, which helps treat problems earlier.
Questions about this treatment?
Send a WhatsApp message or book an examination. The dentist explains the options before anything starts.