Dental Radiography

Without X-rays we are limited to what we can see with the naked eye. Many important problems can be missed without looking further with an X-ray. Dental X-rays are taken to:

• Find problems in the mouth such as tooth decay, damage to the bones supporting the teeth, and dental injuries, and are often done to find these problems early, before any symptoms are present
• Find teeth that are not in the right place or do not break through the gum properly (impacted)
• Find cysts, solid growths, or abscesses
• Check for the location of permanent teeth growing in the jaws of children who still have their baby teeth
• Plan treatment for large or extensive cavities, root canal treatment, placement of dental implants, and all tooth removals
• Plan treatment for orthodontic treatment

Cone Beam X-Ray (CBCT)

CBVT, or Cone Beam Volumetric Tomography, is a compact, fast and safe way of acquiring 3D dental imaging, and allows for the radiation dose and scan time to be significantly reduced. Cone Beam VT provides superior spatial resolution compared to conventional CT (computer tomography) for the jaw and cheek bone, and a radiation dose that is 10–50 times less than the conventional dental CT.

CBVT systems are increasingly used by dentists for various clinical applications including dental implant planning, visualisation of abnormal teeth, evaluation of the jaws and face, cleft palate assessment, diagnosis of cavities, root canal diagnosis, and diagnosis of dental trauma.

Cephalometric X-Ray

A Lateral Cephalometric Radiograph is an X-ray taken of the side of your face, with very precise positioning so that various measurements can be made to determine the current and future relationship of your jaws to each other and to the base of the skull, and therefore the nature of your bite. This helps to plan any orthodontic treatment if it is necessary.

Orthopentogram (OPG)

An OPG is a panoramic or wide view x-ray of the lower face, which displays all the teeth of the upper and lower jaw on a single film, and demonstrates the number, position and growth of all the teeth including those that have not yet surfaced. It is different from the small close up x-rays dentists take of individual teeth, and may reveal problems with the jawbone and the joint which connects the jawbone to the head. An OPG may be requested for the planning of orthodontic treatment, for assessment of wisdom teeth or for a general overview of the teeth and the bone which supports the teeth.