Why does the dentist take x-rays?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
X-rays show what eyes cannot: decay between teeth, root infections, bone loss, and teeth still under the gums. The joint FDA and American Dental Association guidance says radiographs let dentists definitively diagnose many oral diseases and conditions, and directs them to balance that benefit against radiation exposure, imaging only when your history and examination justify it. That risk-based approach is why frequency varies from patient to patient. The payoff is early detection: interproximal decay caught on an x-ray is a small filling, while the same decay found by pain can be a root canal. Children get monitored for how adult teeth are developing and erupting.
What to do
- Expect x-rays by need, not routine; your decay risk sets the interval.
- Tell the team if you are or might be pregnant before imaging.
- Bring previous x-rays when changing dentists so old images are not retaken.
- Ask to see your x-rays; a two-minute look explains the findings better than a description.
Related questions
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- Why is my bite off after the dentist?
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- Why do I get a dry mouth at night?