imaging Archives - Reedley Family Dental

Intraoral Camera in Reedley, CA

The short answer is that an intraoral camera is a tool our dentist at Reedley Family Dental uses to examine your mouth in as detailed a way as possible. The instrument, which may look like an oversized pen, has a camera that takes high-resolution footage or images of a patient’s mouth and shows the visuals real-time on a monitor—they’re like high-tech versions of the hand mirrors you see in your dentist’s practice.

Benefits the dentist.

Intraoral cameras have incredible technological features. With LED lighting, a head that rotates from 0 to 90 degrees, and powerful magnifying capabilities (some cameras can zoom in up to 100x), our dentist can examine your mouth in extreme detail. This means he or she can make diagnoses more accurately. The office can attach these photos to your health record to make tracking any changes simple. Additionally, because the visuals from the intraoral camera appear on the monitor as they’re taken, our dentist can discuss your oral health with you while you both see the images or footage.

Benefits the patient.

Each feature that benefits the dentist also benefits the patient—maybe even more. Our dentist understands symptoms and conditions thoroughly, but it’s often difficult to explain precisely what is happening in a patient’s mouth using just a mouth mirror, which is small and hard to see, or an x-ray image, which takes time to print and doesn’t display images clearly.

If you are looking for an intraoral camera in Reedley, CA, this technology can help provide a closer view of your teeth, gums, and other areas inside the mouth. Unlike a traditional dental examination alone, an intraoral camera can capture detailed images that may help both the dental team and patient better understand areas of concern.

Intraoral images can be useful when evaluating tooth damage, discoloration, cracks, cavities, gum concerns, or changes that may require further examination. These images may also help when discussing treatment options such as dental crowns, composite fillings, or other restorative procedures.

For patients considering dental implants, intraoral imaging may also be part of the overall examination and treatment-planning process. Your dentist can determine which imaging and diagnostic methods are appropriate based on your individual oral health needs.

When our dentist uses an intraoral camera during your examination, however, you’re seeing exactly what he or she sees right then. Dentists can display clear, colorful images, allowing them to point out any issues and discuss them with you immediately. You’ll certainly learn a lot about your mouth! And the more you see and understand, the more confident you can be when making treatment decisions.

At Reedley Family Dental, we will print or email images for our patients so you can refer to them at home. Because these images are processed immediately, it saves you time.

Digital X-Rays in Reedley, CA

Our natural environment exposes us to all kinds of radiation. Digital x-rays produce a significantly lower level of radiation compared to older methods. Not only are digital x-rays faster and better for your health, they are also more comfortable. For our new patients, we generally recommend a full mouth series and bitewing x-rays. These are a good reference for 3-5 years and are usually taken after your check-up and cleaning.

5 reasons for taking X-Rays:

To look for decay in between teeth
To check for the bone loss associated with gum disease
To check for decay under older fillings
To see if there are signs of infection at the very bottom of the tooth root
To examine a problem area before it is treated with a procedure

If you are looking for digital X-rays in Reedley, CA, Reedley Family Dental uses dental imaging to help evaluate teeth, roots, jawbone, and surrounding structures as part of a comprehensive dental examination. Digital X-rays can provide detailed images that help the dental team identify areas that may not be visible during a routine visual examination.

Dental X-rays may be useful when evaluating tooth decay, infections, bone changes, impacted teeth, and other dental concerns. They can also support treatment planning for procedures such as dental implants and orthodontic care such as Invisalign.

Digital imaging may also be used when evaluating a tooth that needs restorative treatment. Depending on your individual needs, your dentist may recommend additional treatment such as dental crowns to restore a damaged or weakened tooth.

Your dentist will determine which type of dental imaging is appropriate based on your oral health, symptoms, and treatment needs.

Panorex X-Ray in Reedley, CA

Panoramic dental x-ray uses a very small dose of ionizing radiation to capture the entire mouth in one image. It is commonly performed by dentists and oral surgeons in everyday practice and may be used to plan treatment for dentures, braces, extractions, and implants.

This exam requires little to no special preparation. Tell your doctor if there is a possibility you are pregnant. Remove any jewelry, eyeglasses or metal objects that might interfere with the x-ray images. You will be asked to wear a lead apron to protect the rest of your body from any radiation exposure.

What are some common uses of the procedure?

A panoramic x-ray is a commonly performed examination by dentists and oral surgeons in everyday practice and is an important diagnostic tool. It covers a wider area than a conventional intraoral x-ray and, as a result, provides valuable information about the maxillary sinuses, tooth positioning, and other bone abnormalities. This examination is also used to plan treatment for full and partial dentures, braces, extractions, and implants.

A panoramic x-ray can also reveal dental and medical problems such as:

advanced periodontal disease
cysts in the jaw bones
jaw tumors and oral cancer
impacted teeth including wisdom teeth
jaw disorders (also known as temporomandibular joint or TMJ disorders)
sinusitis

What are the benefits vs. risks?

Benefits

No radiation remains in a patient’s body after an x-ray examination.
X-rays usually have no side effects in the typical diagnostic range for this exam.
Panoramic x-rays can be used for very young children since the film does not have to be placed inside the mouth.

Risks

Women should always inform their dentist or oral surgeon if there is any possibility that they are pregnant.

If you are looking for a Panorex X-ray in Reedley, CA, panoramic dental imaging can provide a broad view of the teeth, upper and lower jaws, and surrounding oral structures in a single image. This type of dental imaging can give your dentist additional information that may not be available from a standard visual examination alone.

A Panorex X-ray may be useful when evaluating developing or impacted teeth, jaw structures, tooth positioning, and other dental concerns. Panoramic imaging can also be helpful when planning certain treatments, including dental implants and orthodontic care such as traditional braces.

For patients who need a more detailed evaluation of a particular area, your dentist may recommend other forms of dental imaging, such as digital X-rays. The appropriate type of imaging will depend on your symptoms, oral health, and individual treatment needs.