X-rays let us see what the naked eye cannot — decay between teeth, changes beneath the gums, and problems in the bone that supports your teeth. They are one of the most important diagnostic tools in dentistry, and at Smile Solutions every X-ray is taken digitally, using very low levels of radiation.
Safety standards for dental X-rays in the UK are set by bodies including the British Dental Association (BDA), the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR), the Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP), the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). We follow these guidelines rigorously, and you are always welcome to discuss X-ray exposure with your dentist.
Dental X-rays are safe for the vast majority of people, but some patients need special consideration:
A bitewing X-ray detects decay and other problems between and within the teeth. It takes its name from the wing-shaped device you bite down on, which holds the sensor in place while it captures the upper and lower teeth on one side of the mouth in a single image.
Bitewings show detail from the crown down to the supporting bone, revealing areas invisible to the naked eye — early decay, gum disease and problems around existing fillings or crowns. They are a routine part of examinations and may be taken periodically to monitor change over time.
A periapical X-ray shows an entire tooth — from crown to root tip — along with the surrounding bone. It is used to diagnose problems such as abscesses, infections and bone loss, and to support orthodontic assessment.
The sensor is placed inside your mouth and the image captures the targeted tooth and its supporting structures in fine detail, allowing us to identify abnormalities at the root. Periapical and bitewing X-rays are often used together to build a complete picture of your dental health.
An OPG (orthopantomogram) is a panoramic X-ray — a single, wide image of the entire mouth, including all the teeth, both jaws and the temporomandibular joints (TMJs), as well as teeth that have not yet erupted.
You rest your chin on a small ledge while the machine rotates gently around your head. Because it captures the whole mouth at once, an OPG is invaluable for assessing impacted teeth, fractures, cysts, bone loss and the jaw ridges of denture patients — problems that individual X-rays might miss.
A lateral cephalometric X-ray (“lateral ceph”) gives a side view of the head, showing the bones and soft tissues of the face and skull. It is used mainly in orthodontics and oral surgery.
Your head is held still in a positioning device while the machine captures the side profile. The resulting image shows the skull, jaws, teeth and soft tissues in detail, and is used to plan treatment for misaligned teeth and jaws (malocclusions), impacted teeth, jaw-growth abnormalities and sleep apnoea.
Every smile is different, and understanding what you would like to change is the first step. Complete our short form and tell us a little about your concerns, goals or previous dental experiences. A friendly member of the Smile Solutions team will then contact you to discuss your options, answer your questions and help you decide what feels right for you, with no pressure to book.
