X-ray images are among the most valuable tools a dentist has for keeping your mouth and teeth healthy. They are also called dental radiographs.

For adults, X-rays can:

• Show areas of decay that your dentist may not be able to see just by looking at your teeth, such as tiny pits of decay between teeth
• Find decay under a filling
• Find cracks or other damage in a filling
• Alert the dentist to possible bone loss from periodontal (gum) disease
• Reveal problems in the root canal of a tooth, such as infection or death of the nerve
• Help your dentist plan, prepare and place tooth tooth implants, braces, dentures or other dental work
• Reveal other problems, such as cysts, cancer or changes caused by diseases of the body

For children, X-rays are used to find decay and to monitor tooth growth and development. Dentists also use periodic X-rays to see whether:

• The space in the mouth is big enough to fit all the new teeth
• Permanent teeth are developing and coming in properly
• Extra teeth are developing
• Any teeth are impacted (unable to come through the gums)

Often, catching a small problem in tooth development early can prevent major problems later on.