Teeth are tricky. Most people assume that when you look at a tooth you are seeing it almost in its entirety but that’s not true. Only about one third of the total tooth is located above the gum line. And while certain things, mainly pain, alert us to when things go wrong, by taking precautionary measures and having dental X-rays done on a regular basis, many times concerns can be discovered and corrected before becoming a painful problem.

When you join our practice as a new patient a complete set of X-rays will be taken so we can see, if in fact, there are any underlying challenges, as well as possibly determine procedures that have been performed in the past. And X-rays don’t just tell what’s going on with your teeth; they also allow us to see the surrounding tissue.

Advantages of dental X-rays include:

Discovering decay that may not be seen during a normal oral exam.

Checking for bone loss from possible gum disease.
Decay can still occur under a pre-existing filling. An X-ray can detect this.
Exposing infections, abscesses, cysts and in some cases of tumors.
Dental X-rays also aid in certain dental procedures including implants, bridge placement and the status of wisdom teeth.

For those of you concerned with possible exposure to excess radiation, we here at Ellis Dental are totally committed to your overall health and safety. Please feel free to discuss any reservations you may have at your next appointment.

Looking for a caring family dental practice in the Crestwood area of St. Louis? Ellis Dental is presently accepting new patients. Visit us online for more information or call 314.965.1334, we can’t wait to meet you!