Griffin Orthodontics offers a variety of services to provide orthodontic solutions and maintain oral health. Digital x-rays are extremely important for tracking the progress of treatments and evaluating dental health.
What Are Digital X-Rays?
Digital x-rays or radiographs are precise images taken of the inside of your mouth captured using radiation. Digital x-rays allow your orthodontist near Elm Grove to analyze inside and between your teeth, the tooth root and the jaw bone beneath the gums. X-rays are a safe procedure that uses little radiation. These images can be sent directly to a computer in seconds to be viewed on-screen or printed out.
Intraoral X-Rays
This type of x-ray is taken inside the mouth.
- Bitewing: A Bitewing x-ray shows the upper and lower teeth on one side of the mouth from the crown of the tooth to the supporting bone. This x-ray shows the thickness of the teeth and helps detect decay.
- Occlusal: An occlusal x-ray captures all your teeth in one shot. Orthodontists near Elm Grove use this type of x-ray to track the placement of each tooth in the upper or lower arch of the jaw.
- Periapical: This x-ray focuses only on one or two teeth at a time, capturing the whole tooth from root to crown.
Extraoral X-Rays
This type of x-ray is taken outside the mouth.
- Panoramic: A panoramic x-ray uses a machine that circles around the patient’s head in order to capture all teeth, upper and lower, in one single x-ray. This allows your orthodontist near Elm Grove to see emerged, emerging and impacted teeth.
- Cephalometric: This x-ray allows for a profile view of the patient to view teeth placement in relation to jaw alignment.
- Dental Computed Tomography (CT): A CT x-ray shows interior structures in 3D and is used to find problems with the bones in the face including cysts, tumors and fractures.