WHY DOES AN ORTHODONTIST NEED TO TAKE AN X-RAY?

X-Rays are one of the most important diagnostic tools in orthodontic treatment and in most cases; X-rays are taken before and after orthodontic treatment. Because an orthodontist works on the complete dental-facial complex, X-rays are used to find any underlying alignment or structural problems with the patient’s jaw and teeth. Moreover, X-rays are highly effective in determining the possible direction of tooth growth and movement, which allows an orthodontist to assess the connection between teeth and its adjoining structures. While an orthodontist informs the patient about dental x-rays at the beginning of treatment, many patients question the need for dental X-rays upon treatment completion. Once the particular dental problem has been fixed, many patients find it unnecessary to get another X-ray. However, it is important to understand that post-treatment dental X-rays help an orthodontist ensure proper development of bones and proper alignment of the teeth so that any dental issues associated with the treatment can be avoided in the future.

Orthodontists typically use two types of radiographs for devising an appropriate orthodontic treatment plan. The patient is either required to have the panoramic (OPG) or opt for cephalometric views. The OPG is useful in determining the position of un-erupted teeth (if any), the supporting bone’s health around the teeth, sinuses of jaw joints, etc. On the contrary, cephalometric views are profile x-rays of the skull in addition to soft tissues, which help in evaluating the connections between teeth, the connection between the jaws and the skull along with the connection between the soft tissues and the jaws and teeth. An orthodontist may also use cephalometric views for making growth predictions in children and to assess any changes that have resulted from the treatment. In fact, cephalometric views play an important role in giving accurate results in order to ensure effective and result-oriented orthodontic treatment techniques.

While OPG and cephalogram are the two most common types of dental X-rays that are used before treatment, further radiographs may be needed for assessing abnormal morphology or pathology. For instance, patients returning for wisdom teeth assessment are recommended post-treatment OPGs in addition to lateral cephalogram so that the final outcomes of the treatment can be effectively determined. TMJ radiographs are yet another type of dental x-rays that are used for evaluating the 2-D structure of the patient’s temporomandibular joints. However, an orthodontist uses cone-beam x-rays for complete analysis of issues related to TMJ. Therefore, a typical patient may have to undergo at least three or more radiographs during an orthodontic treatment procedure.

For those who doubt the safety of dental X-rays, it is important to note that state authorities closely monitor the use of X-ray equipment, which means that the x-ray equipment, the room that houses the procedure and the staff operating these equipment have received official training to safely carry out the procedures. Furthermore, comprehensive guidelines are used for minimizing patient and operator exposure. Because of recent technological advancements, orthodontists have the advantage of using quality radiographs that have significantly improved success rates in orthodontic treatment.