Emergency Dental X-Rays in Denver

Which X-ray might be used

A small periapical image shows an entire tooth from crown to root and is common for toothache, abscess or trauma. Bitewing images emphasize the crowns of upper and lower teeth and can show decay between them. A panoramic image provides a broad view of the jaws, impacted teeth and surrounding structures.

Three-dimensional cone-beam imaging is reserved for selected situations in which added detail may change treatment. It is not automatically needed for every emergency.

What an emergency X-ray can reveal

Imaging can help locate deep decay, infection around a root, bone loss, a retained root, an impacted wisdom tooth or a fracture involving supporting bone. It also helps a dentist evaluate root shape and nearby anatomy before an extraction.

• Changes around a tooth root that may support an infection diagnosis
• Whether decay reaches close to the nerve space
• Position and shape of roots
• Injury to the tooth socket or jaw
• Prior root canal work, restorations or implants in the area

What an X-ray cannot decide by itself

An image is one part of the diagnosis. Some cracks are too fine or positioned in a way that makes them difficult to see, and early pulp inflammation may not produce an obvious X-ray change. Symptoms, clinical tests and the dentist’s examination must be considered together.

Radiation, pregnancy and patient-specific imaging

Modern dental X-rays use low radiation doses. ADA guidance emphasizes selecting images according to each patient’s signs, symptoms, age, health and disease risk and limiting exposure to what is diagnostically useful.

Tell the dental team if you are pregnant or may be pregnant. Needed dental imaging and emergency care should not simply be postponed based on pregnancy, but the dentist should make an individualized decision and follow current safety practices.

Can recent X-rays prevent repeat images?

Ask a previous dentist to forward recent images when time allows. A usable image may prevent unnecessary duplication, but another view can be appropriate if the old X-ray misses the painful area, symptoms have changed, image quality is inadequate or current treatment requires a different angle.