Dental X-Rays in Buffalo, NY

Buffalo dentist Todd Shatkin DDS offers affordable dental X-rays using the latest technology for accurate, minimally invasive care. Schedule your free consultation today at Aesthetic Associates Centre. Serving Amherst, Williamsville, Clarence, Buffalo, Western New York, the U.S., and international patients.

Dental X-rays are an essential part of any dental practice as they allow the dentist to see things that they can’t with a simple visual examination. X-ray technology allows dentists to see and treat dental problems before they become serious. Newer technology and the development of dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) allow dentists to take X-ray imaging one step further and deliver a three-dimensional image of your dental structure, soft tissues, nerve paths, and bone, allowing for more precise treatment planning.

What Do Traditional Dental X-Rays Show?

Traditional dental X-rays give the dentist the ability to look inside your teeth, the tip of the roots, and underneath your gums. This area is not visible to the naked eye, so this gives the dentist a better idea of what is going on inside your mouth. In the dental office, you may receive bitewing, periapical, and panoramic dental x-rays.

Bitewings show the crown portion of the teeth and allow the dentist to check for early signs of decay. Periapical dental X-rays look at the bone height and root tips of the teeth. A panoramic dental X-ray creates an image of the entire oral cavity, and this can help identify things like impactions, cysts, tumors, jaw disorders, or bone irregularities.

Depending on your dentist and your need for care, other X-rays, such as occlusal X-rays, help a dentist evaluate tooth growth in children, while cephalometric X-rays help orthodontists plan orthodontic treatments.

What is Cone Beam Computer Tomography (CBCT)?

Dental Cone Beam Computer Tomography, or CBCT, is a specialized type of X-ray machine that utilizes technology designed to create a three-dimensional image of your craniofacial region in a single scan. This procedure is painless and noninvasive and provides a highly accurate diagnostic tool.

During a CBCT, an X-ray beam in the shape of a cone moves around the patient in a complete 360-degree rotation, taking a large number of images. In a single rotation, the CBCT generates hundreds of high-resolution images that are then combined to form a 3-D image. These detailed images provide the dentist with a more detailed picture of what is going on. The procedure is quick and only takes between 20 and 40 seconds.

This technology gives the dentist an advantage when it comes to creating a precise treatment plan catered directly to your needs. This technology is commonly used now in orthodontic treatment planning but can be essential in complex dental cases such as severely impacted teeth, accurate dental implant placement, evaluating jaw, sinus, and naval cavity issues, diagnosing temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), and much more. If you are interested in dental x-rays, contact Dr. Todd Shatkin today for a free consultation.

How Do You Benefit from Cone Beam CT?

CBCT is an incredible technological advancement that gives our dentists a powerful diagnostic tool. With a single scan, your dentist can get a much more precise picture of your oral health and tooth structure. 3D imaging allows the dentist to better see potential problems and create a treatment plan for you.

Are CBCT X-Ray’s Safe?

Dental X-rays and CBCTs used in dental offices emit small doses of radiation, but our office takes every precaution to reduce your risk of increased exposure. Dental X-rays are only taken when they are diagnostically necessary. To minimize exposure, you will have a lead full-body apron in place before any X-ray procedure.

How Often Should You Have Dental X-rays?

Traditional dental x-rays are typically performed at an initial dental visit. Depending on your oral health and dental needs, additional dental X-rays may be necessary as treatment plans progress.

Children and teens with a history of cavities or those experiencing tooth development abnormalities may require additional dental X-rays as often as every six months to evaluate oral health and track development. Adults with extensive fillings or dental restorations may need X-rays more often to look for decay beneath previous work.

People suffering from severe periodontal disease may require X-rays more often to check for signs of bone loss and tooth decay.

If you have underlying medical conditions, such as Sjogren’s, or take medications that can cause dry mouth, your dentist may request more frequent X-rays to better monitor for signs of decay. Because saliva helps regulate the pH in the mouth, dry mouth reduces the pH, causing minerals to break down in the teeth and allowing for increasing decay.

Smokers and those using other tobacco products may need dental X-rays more frequently to monitor for bone loss, increased cavity risk, and periodontal disease.

If you have any questions about your x-rays, why they are necessary, or how they are being used in your treatment plan, give our office a call today or ask your dentist at your next scheduled appointment.

Discover the latest technology in dental x-rays with Dr. Todd Shatkin at Aesthetic Associates Centre. With over 30 years of cosmetic dentistry experience, he’s ready to provide expert care. Schedule your free consultation today. Proudly serving Amherst, Williamsville, Clarence, Buffalo, Western New York, the U.S., and international patients.