How often should X-rays be taken?

How often X-rays (radiographs) should be taken depends on the patient's individual health needs. It is important to recognize that just as each patient is different form the next, so should the scheduling of X-ray exams be individualized for each patient. Your dentist will review your history, examine your mouth and then decide whether you need radiographs and what type. If you are a new patient, the dentist may recommend radiographs to determine the present status of the hidden areas of your mouth and to help analyze changes that may occur later. If you have had recent radiographs at your previous dentist, your new dentist may ask you to have the radiographs forwarded.

The schedule for needing radiographs at recall visits varies according to your age, risk for disease and signs and symptoms. Recent films may be needed to detect new cavities, or to determine the status of gum disease or for evaluation of growth and development. Children may need X-rays more often than adults. This is because their teeth and jaws are still developing and because their teeth are more likely to be affected by tooth decay than those of adults.

How Can I Tell If My Wisdom Teeth Are Coming In?

If you have some unexplained pressure in the back of your mouth you may have found yourself asking "how can I tell if my wisdom teeth are coming in?" If you are in between the ages of 16 and 30 this is a viable question. Everyone has heard stories about the pain associated with wisdom teeth, so the subject may make you a little nervous. The answer is to seek dental care.

Wisdom teeth are the third molars and they normally appear after adolescence. Most people have 4 of these teeth, but some have less and some have none at all. The number of wisdom teeth you have is based on genetics, so you may want to ask your parents how many they have and what were their symptoms. There are even rare cases of having more than 4 of these types of teeth.

If you search online under "how can I tell if my wisdom teeth are coming in" you will find thousands of pages with even more symptoms. Your best bet is to visit your dentist and ask what symptoms you should be looking for. If you are feeling any type of pressure or pain in the back of your mouth and jaw, or if your teeth seem to be inexplicably moving, you should certainly be making an appointment with your dentist.

To determine if you are getting your wisdom teeth, your dentist will do an oral exam and probably x-rays. Depending on what he sees, a course of action will be established. Normally, if the wisdom teeth are not affecting other teeth, they will be left in. Often, though, these teeth come in at an angle causing other teeth to move. When this happens, they must be extracted.

When there is a wisdom tooth infection the tooth must also be extracted. A wisdom tooth causes infection when it is partially impacted. Impacted teeth are teeth that do not break the surface. If a the tooth only partially breaks the skin, the remaining skin flap can collect bacteria. The resulting infection can be quite serious if left untreated. While there are alternative treatments that involve removing the skin, tooth extraction is most commonly preferred.

Seeking the care of a dental professional is the only recommended course of action regarding wisdom teeth. They can advise you on your treatment alternatives. If they cannot remove the teeth themselves, they can direct you to an oral surgeon they trust. While you may have a little post-op pain, it will be worth it when the rest of your teeth stay straight and you are free of wisdom tooth pressure.