Everything You Need to Know About Dental X-Rays at MVP Family Dental
Hello, I'm Dr. Priya Mathew from MVP Family Dental ,and today I'm going to answer some of your questions about dental X-rays.
What is a dental X-ray?
A dental X-ray is an image we use. It's also called a radiograph, and we use it to see between your teeth, much like a regular chest X-ray, but for your teeth and much smaller.
When do dentists take the X-rays?
Dentists take X-rays in emergency situations when you come in for a consultation to see what's going on. If you have pain in a certain area of your mouth, we'll take an X-ray of that area. For instance, if you have wisdom tooth pain, we would take another type of X-ray called a panoramic X-ray, which goes around all your teeth to see all the way in the back. We also take X-rays for checkups, usually once a year.
Are dental X-rays safe?
Yes, dental X-rays are generally safe. You're not getting a million dental X-rays at one time; you're getting a few. One dental X-ray gives you the same radiation as, say, a whole day laying out in the sun, or in another example, it emits the same amount of radiation as a banana. It's pretty minimal.
Can dental X-ray show periodontal disease?
Absolutely. Dental X-rays can show periodontal disease because they reveal the level of the bone. In the X-ray, you can see where the tooth ends, where the bone begins, and where the gum is. This definitely helps us diagnose and treat periodontal or gum disease.
Are dental X-rays covered by insurance?
Dental X-rays are usually covered by your dental insurance. It depends on various factors, such as what plan you have, your dental insurance plan, and how often they cover it. We try to check for you so that you're not paying out of pocket.
What is a dentist looking for in dental X-rays?
A dentist is looking for signs of disease in dental X-rays, such as gum disease, and caries, which means cavities. We can see tartar or calculus buildup in the X-rays, which is basically plaque and bacteria that has calcified over time. We can see a lot in those X-rays.
Are dental X-rays expensive?
Dental X-rays aren't expensive. It depends on what you consider expensive, but they're not outrageous. Dental X-rays are usually covered by your dental insurance. We only take them once a year unless you're extremely cavity-prone; in that case, we would want to take them every six months.
Some dental insurances do cover every six months. If you don't have insurance, we have a new patient special that covers it all. You get all of your X-rays for just $129. It also includes a cleaning and an exam by the doctor.
We also have a program for those without insurance that covers your X-rays for a whole year. It's called the MVP Smiles program. We can go over that when you come in, but it's basically $399 for the whole year. You get two cleanings, two exams, any emergencies, and all your X-rays are included, including the big panoramic X-ray. Dental X-rays really aren't that expensive if you use one of our plans.
If you’re looking for dental care you can trust, call us at (252) 616-9444 or email [email protected]. We’re here to help you have the smile you've always wanted!