Palos Hills Orthodontist - 10059 S. Roberts Rd. Suite 2a Palos Hills, Il 60465

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What Are Digital Dental X-Rays?

Digital dental X-rays are images of your teeth, gums, and jaw taken using digital technology. This modern method replaces traditional film X-rays, offering quicker results and lower radiation exposure. These images give us a detailed view of your oral health, helping to detect issues that might not be visible during a standard dental exam.

How Do Dental X-Rays Work?

When you get a dental X-ray, a small device emits a controlled beam of radiation that passes through your mouth to create an image. Hard structures like teeth and bone block more radiation, appearing white on the X-ray, while softer tissues appear darker.

Digital X-rays use electronic sensors to capture these images, which are immediately displayed on a screen for analysis. This process is fast and efficient and significantly reduces your radiation exposure compared to traditional methods.

Types of Dental X-Rays

Different types of dental X-rays help identify a variety of issues. At Paul DiFranco Orthodontics, we use these X-rays to guide your orthodontic treatment:

Bitewing X-Rays

  • Capture the upper and lower teeth in one area.
  • Useful for detecting cavities and checking the fit of restorations like crowns.

Periapical X-Rays

  • Focus on a single tooth from the root to the crown.
  • Detects abscesses, infections, or bone changes around a specific tooth.

Panoramic X-Rays

  • Provide a broad view of your entire mouth, including teeth, jaws, and sinuses.
  • Essential for planning orthodontic treatments or identifying impacted teeth.

Cephalometric X-Rays

  • Used primarily in orthodontics to capture a side profile of the face and jaw.
  • Helps in assessing bite alignment and planning treatments like braces.

What Can Dental X-Rays Detect?

Dental X-rays are crucial for diagnosing and preventing oral health issues, including:

  • Misaligned teeth or jaws.
  • Cavities and early signs of tooth decay.
  • Abscesses or infections in the bone.
  • Impacted teeth or wisdom teeth.
  • Bone loss caused by gum disease.
  • Cysts, tumors, or other abnormalities.

Are Dental X-Rays Safe?

Yes, dental X-rays are safe. Modern digital technology significantly reduces radiation exposure, making it minimal compared to other everyday sources of radiation like cell phones or air travel.

At Paul DiFranco Orthodontics, we take extra precautions, such as using lead aprons and thyroid collars, to ensure your safety.

351 West Hubbard Street Chicago IL 60654 US
(708) 930-5941
5/5 based on 4 reviews

Hear What Our Patients Are Saying

Discover how our patients have transformed their smiles and confidence with our expert orthodontic care!

Barbara and Paul were amazing! Very informative and nice. I was nervous, and they patiently explained to me what would be best for my situation. I'm really excited to start treatment here.

I absolutely loved my experience at Paul DiFranco Orthodontics. I had braces for almost 2 years and Doctor Paul and his team made my journey great. I love how my teeth turned out and I would definetely recommend Paul DiFranco to anyone wanting to improve their smile.

Choosing Paul Difranco orthodontics was the best decision I made when deciding to improve my smile as an adult! They made the process super easy, comfortable, and were always willing to work with you on what you wanted to improve. No long wait times and very organized. Thank you!

I was so nervous to get braces as an adult, but the staff at Paul Difranco Orthodontics made my entire experience wonderful! Dr. Difranco and his staff do absolutely amazing work! I can’t recommend them enough!

Paul DiFranco Ortho has been hands down one of if not THE best business/work I’ve had done on myself. Exceptionally quick with every appointment and I’m only waiting 2-3 minutes per visit to be seated. I’m in and out every time. Very very friendly front desk and phenomenal service time and time again. If ya go tell em Dan sent ya!