It is true that we do not always find things wrong every year, so why do we take x-rays?
Dr. Sachs explains why she, and other dentists, use dental x-rays:
I like them because I have had so many patients that look healthy but, when I look at the x-rays, I find problems that I could not see. I have had a few patients develop cysts that were destroying bone that did not have symptoms and the only way to see it was the x-ray. Patients that don’t usually get decay can have problems in the bone or on the roots of teeth. I often like to refer back to old x-rays to see if an area has changed to determine if it is decay or something else. I would hate to practice without x-rays; I would feel like I was partially blind.
Be sure to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sachs if you’re due for a cleaning or have any concerns about the health of your mouth.