Dental X-Rays in San Antonio, TX | Monarch Dental (2024)

X-ray imaging plays a pivotal role in dental care, as it’s a crucial diagnostic tool dentists rely on.

The dental field has seen a shake-up in dental X-rays recently, as most dental practices have embraced digital imaging. This technology replaces traditional film X-rays with digitally created X-ray images.Digital X-rays use similar technology as the older film X-rays, but they offer numerous advantages, including:

Up to 90% less radiation
Unmatched clarity and detail
Immediate viewing

Let’s dive deeper into dental X-rays in San Antonio, TX and explore the importance, advancements, and benefits of this technology.

The Importance of X-ray Imaging in Dentistry

X-ray imaging is a cornerstone of modern dentistry. It gives a dental professional a comprehensive view of the patient’s oral health and reveals what the naked eye cannot see.

Dental X-rays are instrumental in detecting hidden dental structures, malignant or benign masses, bone loss, cavities, and more. They are also essential for planning complex dental procedures such as dental implants, braces, extractions, and root canals.

The American Dental Association (ADA) provides guidelines on the frequency and safety of dental X-rays. These guidelines also emphasize the importance of regular dental X-rays for maintaining oral health and early detection. San Antonio, TX Dental clinics adhere to these guidelines and ensure only certified and experienced dental radiologists and technicians perform X-ray imaging.

Some key reasons dental X-rays are important include:

Detecting decay and damage to teeth and gums
Identifying bone loss associated with gum disease
Revealing abscesses, cysts, and tumors
Planning orthodontic treatment
Guiding tooth extractions and implant placement

The Shift to Digital X-rays in San Antonio, TX

Dentistry has seen significant technological advancements over the years. One of the most notable changes has been the shift from traditional film X-rays to digital imaging.

Digital imaging has largely replaced traditional film X-rays in modern practices. This is due to the numerous benefits it offers, including better image quality, immediate viewing, and less radiation exposure.

Digital X-rays emit up to 90% less radiation than traditional film X-rays, making them safer for patients, especially those who require frequent X-rays. Digital X-rays’ clarity and detail provide better diagnostics and patient outcomes. They also allow the dentist and patient to immediately view the X-rays, facilitating a more interactive approach to dental care.

Many dental practices in San Antonio, TX have embraced this technology, ensuring their patients receive the best care possible.

Dental X-rays at Monarch Dental in San Antonio, TX

Monarch Dental in San Antonio, TX offers advanced X-ray imaging services to help us meet our goal of delivering high-quality dental care for our patients by giving our dentists clearer images to work with. This shift also allows us to continue to focus on patient safety thanks to digital X-ray imaging emitting far less harmful radiation.

Monarch Dental also focuses on patient comfort, and digital dental X-rays in San Antonio, TX make the X-ray process faster and more comfortable for patients. Gone are the days of holding uncomfortable plastic in your mouth for multiple images of the same area and having a hefty lead vest draped over you. Now, you can sit comfortably while the dentist quickly takes X-rays and reviews them live to ensure they’re acceptable.

Finding the Right Dentist to Perform Dental X-rays in San Antonio, TX

When looking for a dental X-ray provider in San Antonio, TX, you want to consider several factors.

First, you want to ensure you choose a provider that uses digital imaging technology. This ensures lower radiation exposure, better image quality, and a faster, more comfortable X-ray process.

You also want to consider the range of services offered. Some clinics offer specialized X-ray imaging for specific dental needs. Finding a provider that can accommodate your dental health requirements is important.

Lastly, consider the clinic’s commitment to patient safety and comfort. This includes the use of protective measures during X-ray imaging and a comfortable patient experience.

Fortunately, Monarch Dental meets all these needs. Our state-of-the-art facilities use digital imaging, offer a wide range of X-ray services, and prioritize patient safety and comfort.

What to Expect During Your Dental X-ray Appointment

A dental X-ray appointment in San Antonio, TX is straightforward.

Depending on the technology, your dentist may place a lead apron and thyroid collar on you. These protective measures help to minimize radiation exposure. At Monarch Dental, we use digital imaging technology, so these are no longer necessary unless you request them.

Next, the dental professional will position a digital sensor in your mouth. This sensor captures X-ray images. The X-ray operator will then aim the X-ray machine at your mouth and the sensor and activate the X-ray machine to take the digital image.

Types of Dental X-rays in San Antonio, TX

Dental X-rays in San Antonio, TX are categorized into two main types: intraoral and extraoral.

The key difference between these is where the dentist places the X-ray sensor — or the film in an older X-ray system. Let’s review both.

What Are Intraoral X-rays?

In intraoral X-rays, the sensor or film goes inside the mouth.

Intraoral X-rays, the most common X-ray type, provide detailed images of individual teeth. These dental X-rays in San Antonio, TX are useful for detecting cavities, checking the health of the tooth root and bone surrounding the tooth, and monitoring the general tooth and jawbone health.

Some subtypes of intraoral X-rays include:

Bitewing X-rays: Used to detect decay between teeth and changes in bone density caused by gum disease. They provide a visual of both the lower and upper posterior teeth. The name “bitewing” comes from the small tab you bite on to hold the X-ray film or sensor in place.
Periapical X-rays: Show the entire tooth, from the crown to the root. These X-rays help detect any abnormalities in the root structure and surrounding bone structure. They are particularly useful for detecting impacted teeth, abscesses, cysts, tumors, and bone changes linked to some diseases.
Occlusal X-rays: Larger and show full tooth development and placement. They can help find extra teeth, teeth that have not yet broken through the gums, jaw fractures, cleft palate, cysts, abscesses, or growths. They can also find foreign objects in the mouth or check if a child’s primary teeth (baby teeth) are being lost quickly enough to allow the permanent teeth to come in properly.

What Are Extraoral X-rays?

An extraoral X-ray uses a film or sensor outside the mouth to show a broader view of the entire mouth area. It is great for detecting impacted teeth, monitoring jaw development and growth, and identifying potential problems between teeth, jaws, and temporomandibular joints (TMJ).

Some subtypes of extraoral X-rays include:

Panoramic X-rays: Provide a broad view of the teeth, jaws, sinuses, nasal area, and temporomandibular joints (TMJ). Dentists use these to plan treatment for dental implants, detect impacted wisdom teeth and jaw problems, and diagnose bony tumors and cysts.
Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT): Advanced dental imaging technique that provides a 3D image of the oral and maxillofacial region. Your dentist at Monarch Dental can use them to help with precise dental implant placement, jaw and face evaluation, cleft palate assessment, diagnosis of dental caries, endodontic (root canal) diagnosis, and diagnosis of dental trauma.

Safety and Regulations of Dental X-rays

Dental X-ray imaging is essential, but it does involve exposure to radiation. Fortunately, the radiation level from digital dental X-rays is extremely low. In fact, digital dental X-rays in San Antonio, TX emit up to 90% less radiation compared to traditional film X-rays, making them a safer choice for patients.

Dental practices in San Antonio, TX adhere to strict safety protocols during X-ray imaging. These include:

Using lead aprons and thyroid collars to protect patients from radiation when using a film system, at the patient’s request, or if the patient has a medical condition that makes them sensitive to radiation.
Training staff on the safe use of X-ray equipment.
Regularly inspecting and maintaining X-ray equipment.
Following the guidelines set by the American Dental Association (ADA) and state regulators.

These measures ensure dental X-ray imaging is safe and beneficial for patients.

The Future of Dental X-rays in San Antonio, TX

Dental X-ray imaging is constantly evolving, as companies continue to develop new technologies and techniques to improve patient care.

In most major cities, dental practices are quick to adopt the latest in X-ray imaging technology. This ensures patients receive the most accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

The future of dental X-rays in San Antonio, TX looks promising, especially at Monarch Dental. With ongoing research and development, patients can expect even safer and more precise dental X-rays, and Monarch Dental in San Antonio, TX adopts the newest technologies almost as quickly as they come out.

Visit Monarch Dental Today for Your Dental X-rays in San Antonio, TX

Dental x-rays in San Antonio, TX are just one of the many services Monarch Dental offers and are important to comprehensive dental care.

Monarch Dental includes dental x-rays as part of our routine exams — both of which are free with membership in our OneSmile Dental Plan — and we can perform them right in our office.

If you’re due for dental x-rays in San Antonio, TX or have never had them, schedule an appointment today at your nearest Monarch Dental location you.

Dental X-rays are a fast, easy, and affordable way to get the most out of your dental care and keep your smile healthy for a lifetime.