Dental X-rays
Dental X-rays give your dentist a deeper look at what’s going on beneath the surface. They can catch cavities, bone loss and even infections you can’t see. They also help track healing and plan for things like implants or braces.
What Are Dental X-rays?
Dental X-rays (radiographs) are images of your teeth and jaws. Dentists use them to see parts inside that aren’t visible during a regular exam — like your jawbone, nerves, sinuses and tooth roots. A dental X-ray machine captures these images during your visit.
What can dental radiographs detect?
Dental X-rays help your dentist find a wide range of oral health issues, including:
- Cavities, especially between teeth
- Decay under existing fillings
- Bone loss in your jaw
- Unerupted or impacted teeth
- Abscesses (infections at the tooth root or between gums and teeth)
- Cysts and some tumors
Dentists also use X-rays to determine if you’re a candidate for treatments like implants, braces or dentures. X-rays help track healing after procedures like bone grafts or root canals.
How do dental radiographs work?
Like X-rays taken on other parts of your body, dental X-rays use a tiny amount of radiation to capture images of your mouth. The radiation beam passes through your soft tissues and creates images of your teeth and bones.
X-rays can be traditional (film) or digital (sensors and a computer). Digital X-rays use 80% to 90% less radiation than traditional ones.
Types of dental X-rays
There are two main types:
- Intraoral: The film or sensor goes inside your mouth.
- Extraoral: The film or sensor stays outside your mouth.
Intraoral X-rays
These X-rays help your dentist see details inside your mouth:
- Bitewing: Shows cavities between teeth and below the gumline
- Periapical: Detects gum disease, bone loss and cavities near tooth roots
- Occlusal: Reveals issues under your tongue or on the roof of your mouth, like impacted teeth or jaw fractures
Extraoral X-rays
These images are taken with the film or sensor outside your mouth:
- Panoramic: Shows your entire mouth, including teeth, jaws, nerves, sinuses, and bone
- Cephalometric: Side view of your head, often used in orthodontic planning
- Cone beam CT scan: Provides 3D images of your teeth, jaws, nerves and sinuses; often used for implant planning
How are dental X-rays done?
Before taking dental X-rays, a technician may place a lead apron over your chest and may wrap a thyroid collar around your neck. This helps protect you from excess radiation. You’ll sit or stand in front of the machine while the technician positions the film or sensor and takes the image. Stay as still as possible.
Are dental X-rays safe?
Dental X-rays use very low radiation. A full set exposes you to about the same amount of radiation that you get from:
- Building materials like granite or ceramic tile
- Flying at high altitudes
- Natural background radiation from the sun and Earth
Still, frequent exposure in high doses can be harmful and may increase cancer risk. That’s why dentists only take X-rays when necessary. Your provider will help you weigh the risks and benefits.
How often is it safe to get dental radiographs?
If your teeth and gums are healthy, you may only need dental X-rays every six to 18 months. But if you have gum disease, frequent cavities or other urgent issues, your dentist might recommend them more often.
Children may also need X-rays more frequently — especially during tooth loss or crowding.
References
- American Dental Association. X-Rays/Radiographs (https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/is-it-safe/x-rays-during-pregnancy/). Last reviewed 3/14/2024. Accessed 8/16/2025.
- American Pregnancy Association. X-Rays During Pregnancy (https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/is-it-safe/x-rays-during-pregnancy/). Accessed 8/16/2025.
- Gajanayake C, Liyanage P, Wadusinghearachchi S, Perera I, Epa M. Attitudes, knowledge, and related factors on paediatric dental radiography among parents of children aged less than 13 years attended a tertiary care public dental hospital (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39394901/). Int J Paediatr Dent. 2025 Jul;35(4):687-697. Accessed 8/16/2025.
- Gameraddin M, Alessa AA, Aloufi HS, et al. Dental radiography and safety awareness: Insights from radiographers, dentists, and students in a cross-sectional study (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40036181/). PLoS One. 2025 Mar 4;20(3):e0314884. Accessed 8/16/2025.
- Mupparapu M, Akintoye SO. Application of Panoramic Radiography in the Detection of Osteopenia and Osteoporosis-Current State of the Art (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37382808/). Curr Osteoporos Rep. 2023 Aug;21(4):354-359. Accessed 8/16/2025.
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