17 Aug Why do I need to have x-rays?

X-rays give us a second look at the teeth. When we look in your mouth with magnification and a bright light, we can see quite a bit – but we can’t see in between your teeth and under your gums – and this is often where problems can start.

Early detection of a problem means an easier, cheaper fix, or even a prevention technique to stop the problem from getting worse and avoiding treatment all together.

The images below show some early decay in a young adult detected by x-rays, that then progressed massively in the space of two years when he didn’t return to have these small holes dealt with. The decay is now close to the nerve and means more complex (and expensive!) treatment. You can see the little dark spots have turned in to large ones.

The images below are edited to outline the nerve (red) and the decay (blue).