A large part of a tooth is invisible to the eye: the contact surfaces between teeth, the roots, and the bone. X-rays are how those get assessed. We use digital sensors, which need less exposure than film.
The most common finding not visible on the surface.
Bone levels
The support around teeth, and change over time.
Infection at a root tip
Often silent until it is not.
Under existing restorations
Decay beneath a filling or crown.
Roots and position
Including unerupted or impacted teeth.
How often, and why not every visit
Frequency depends on your risk and history, not a fixed calendar. Someone with active decay and someone with a stable mouth need different intervals. The principle is to take what is needed to diagnose and no more.
Digital sensors require less radiation than traditional film, and images can be enlarged and adjusted on screen, which usually means fewer retakes.
What we can explain here — and what needs an exam
A page can inform you. It cannot examine you.
We can explain online
What each type of image is for
Why frequency is risk-based
Why digital needs less exposure
Determined after an exam
Which images you need and when
What the findings mean for you
Whether a change since your last image matters
What to do next
If you have recent X-rays from another office, we can often request them rather than repeat them. Mention it when you book.