Dental X-rays help your dentist diagnose a wide range of oral health issues.

Dental X-rays show:

• Cavities, especially small areas of decay between teeth.

• Decay beneath existing fillings.

• Bone loss in your jaw.

• Areas of infection.

• The position of unerupted or impacted teeth.

• Abscessed teeth  (infection at the root of your tooth or between gums and  teeth).

• Cysts and some types of tumors.

Dentists also use X-rays to help determine the patient eligibility for treatments like dental implants, braces or dentures. X-rays help the dentist check healing after certain procedures, too, such as dental bone grafts  and root canal therapy.