I suppose I could just ask him, but I won't be going in for a few months, and I'm curious now. I figure it has something to do with the metal -- BUT, just before I had my surgery a month ago, my ortho did a panoramic x-ray for me to give to the oral surgeon, and apparently they could read it well enough to use for the surgery. (Then again, they were concentrating on the roots rather than the surface...)
Did anybody else's dentist stopped taking x-rays after you got braced? Any ideas why that would be?
Why doesn't my dentist take x-rays while I'm in braces?
Moderator: bbsadmin
Too much artifact (false images) to properly diagnose decay or other problems due to the scatter of the x-rays on all that metal. PA's and BWX (what your dentist takes) are much better at diagnosing all the details of your teeth, where as the pano serves a different diagnosis purpose. That is one of the reasons why you should get a clean bill of health before starting ortho treatment.
Best,
Rory
Best,
Rory
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Way Too Old For This
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I went for a dental check-up one year after getting braces, and my dentist did not take x-rays. However, I asked him to because I wanted him to check my roots, so he did. I think they did do a little different angle though to get the roots.
I was particularly worried about my formerly impacted canine since she traveled so far in such a short period of time. But she was fine and her root is the longest one of all my teeth. All my teeth have really long roots, so I guess I am lucky there.
I was particularly worried about my formerly impacted canine since she traveled so far in such a short period of time. But she was fine and her root is the longest one of all my teeth. All my teeth have really long roots, so I guess I am lucky there.
Wired on Sep 16, 2005, left canine exposed on Oct 5, 2005, at 52 years old.
Ortho's typically take a Panoramic (smiley face) and Cephalometric (side of your head) x-ray for diagnosis and treatment planning. General Dentists typically take Peri-apical (PA) x-rays and Bitewings (BWX). The point of a PA is to see the entire tooth on the film including the root, bone level, crown, and associated bone in that area. The point of seeing the root tip or apex is to determine if there is any pathology in or around the tooth. A bitewing can either be horizontal or vertical and will show a little more based on what type. But the point is to show the clinical crown and bone levels of your posterior teeth. BWX are much better at diagnosing interproximal carries (cavities between your teeth).
Without a full course in dental radiography, remember that an x-ray is a 2 dimensional picture of a 3 dimensional object. So the positioning of the x-ray beam and the film is important. You can actually mask a problem if an x-ray is taken improperly. Or you may need to take pictures at different angles to try and see certain things. X-rays have different contrast based on the number of rays that make it through the object and are absorbed by the film. I stole this film from Google Images (so give credit to whomever owns it @ cursor.org), but use it as an example:
Take a look at the lowers, the 2nd premolar (tooth 20, above the own in the pic) is healthy. You can see the clear demarcation of enamel and dentin. Healthy dentin and enamel have specific penetration so they look a certain way. The lower 1st molar (tooth 19, above MPSL) has a big dark white thing in the middle. That is an occlusal amalgam/silver filling. See how it looks like the filling goes over the side of the tooth? That is really just in the center of the tooth, like a cheerio where the center is scooped out but it is fully encapsulated by healthy tooth. Now the last tooth in the pic on the lower (tooth 18) looks really black. That is a heavily decayed tooth that will require a root canal and crown. It is likely fractured clinically but it may be intact. Now think about if you put a bracket and a wire on a tooth and take the same x-ray. The wire will likely be very close to the contact point which is where cavities develop. This can mask a small change in the film indicating a cavity. Or it could make a perfectly healthy tooth appear as if it has a cavity interproximally. With all that metal everywhere it makes the picture less accurate.
Ideally a patient will have all work done before starting orthodontics. Then they will go to regular recall appointments to maintain and circumvent any problems. But in the real world some people are more susceptible to cavities and problems. Patients don't have thorough care before starting treatment. Or situations arise where you want to take x-rays to see what is going on, even if it is not the ideal picture it is better than nothing. So it is normal to not get x-rays while in braces at routine check ups. But the clinical decision is made by your dentist as to the benefits of taking radiographs and they may take them.
Hope this helps clear some things up.
Best,
Rory
Without a full course in dental radiography, remember that an x-ray is a 2 dimensional picture of a 3 dimensional object. So the positioning of the x-ray beam and the film is important. You can actually mask a problem if an x-ray is taken improperly. Or you may need to take pictures at different angles to try and see certain things. X-rays have different contrast based on the number of rays that make it through the object and are absorbed by the film. I stole this film from Google Images (so give credit to whomever owns it @ cursor.org), but use it as an example:
Take a look at the lowers, the 2nd premolar (tooth 20, above the own in the pic) is healthy. You can see the clear demarcation of enamel and dentin. Healthy dentin and enamel have specific penetration so they look a certain way. The lower 1st molar (tooth 19, above MPSL) has a big dark white thing in the middle. That is an occlusal amalgam/silver filling. See how it looks like the filling goes over the side of the tooth? That is really just in the center of the tooth, like a cheerio where the center is scooped out but it is fully encapsulated by healthy tooth. Now the last tooth in the pic on the lower (tooth 18) looks really black. That is a heavily decayed tooth that will require a root canal and crown. It is likely fractured clinically but it may be intact. Now think about if you put a bracket and a wire on a tooth and take the same x-ray. The wire will likely be very close to the contact point which is where cavities develop. This can mask a small change in the film indicating a cavity. Or it could make a perfectly healthy tooth appear as if it has a cavity interproximally. With all that metal everywhere it makes the picture less accurate.
Ideally a patient will have all work done before starting orthodontics. Then they will go to regular recall appointments to maintain and circumvent any problems. But in the real world some people are more susceptible to cavities and problems. Patients don't have thorough care before starting treatment. Or situations arise where you want to take x-rays to see what is going on, even if it is not the ideal picture it is better than nothing. So it is normal to not get x-rays while in braces at routine check ups. But the clinical decision is made by your dentist as to the benefits of taking radiographs and they may take them.
Hope this helps clear some things up.
Best,
Rory
I was convinced that the metal parts in braces would take on the radiation 
When they took my Panorex in the middle of the treatment, I asked them several times if this is going to make me radioactive.
They also make me take off my earrings, and since earrings aren't really in the way (are they?), I didn't even think about visual interference.
When they took my Panorex in the middle of the treatment, I asked them several times if this is going to make me radioactive. They also make me take off my earrings, and since earrings aren't really in the way (are they?), I didn't even think about visual interference.
You get more radiation exposure by spending a day outside in the sun than with a full mouth series of dental x-rays. And yes, your ears and earings will show on a Pano. Not only on the edge by where your ear is but a ghost image on the opposite side as well.I was convinced that the metal parts in braces would take on the radiation
They also make me take off my earrings, and since earrings aren't really in the way (are they?), I didn't even think about visual interference.
Regards,
Rory
Phanta, that is too funny, because I had the same thoughts! When they made me take off my glasses, I thought, "Oh, shoot, what about my bra underwire?" but didn't say anything to the assistant, cuz I figured that lead apron would block any x-rays from making me glow. LOL!phanta wrote:I was convinced that the metal parts in braces would take on the radiation