During a dental exam, the keen eye of the dentist is sometimes not enough to determine if there are any underlying issues. In addition to regular checkups and teeth cleanings, the dentists at Lowitz & Meier in Cincinnati use dental X-rays to get a better sense of your oral health so they can provide better dental care. 

Here is what you need to know about X-rays the next time you're at the dentist office:

• There are two types of dental X-rays. During intraoral X-rays—the most common type—the X-ray film is inside of the mouth. These X-rays allow your dentist to spot cavities, evaluate the health of the tooth root and bone, and monitor the overall health of your teeth. During extraoral X-rays, the X-ray film is outside of the mouth. Dentists use these X-rays when they want to focus on the jaw or skull.
• Different intraoral X-rays tell your dentist different things about your teeth. Bitewing X-rays provide pictures of your upper and lower teeth in a specific area of the mouth. Periapical X-rays show the whole tooth, from the crown to the root. Occlusal X-rays show the entire arch of the teeth in either the upper or lower jaw. Each X-ray reveals something different to the dentist, such as tooth decay and change in bone density (bitewing) and abnormalities in root structure (periapical).
• The newest X-ray technique in dental care is called digital imaging. And it’s used at the dentist office of Lowitz & Meier. Instead of developing X-ray film in a dark room, the X-rays can be viewed on a computer screen or printed out. This technique is beneficial because it uses less radiation than the typical X-ray, and the dentist doesn’t have to wait for the film to develop. It allows the dentists to give better—and faster—dental care to their patients.

Next time you go into the dentist office for your regular checkup, ask if you can look at the X-ray picture on screen. 

For more information about dental X-rays or any of the other services offered at the dentist office of Lowitz & Meier in Cincinnati, visit the website or call (513) 521-8900 to make an appointment.