Dental Imaging

Dental imaging provides a quick and noninvasive way to check for cavities, gum disease, and bone loss. At Pointer Ridge Dental Care in Bowie, Maryland, general dentist Shila Yazdani, DDS, MBA, and the team feature cutting-edge dental imaging techniques onsite. Call Pointer Ridge Dental Care today to schedule an appointment, or book your visit online.

Why is dental imaging important?

Dental imaging allows the Pointer Ridge Dental Care team to identify oral health issues that don’t always present symptoms. 

Conditions like cavities, gum disease, and dental bone loss usually develop slowly and cause few side effects at first. Routine dental imaging helps identify these and other issues before they result in lasting damage.

What types of issues can dental imaging diagnose?

The Pointer Ridge Dental Care team uses dental imaging to diagnose various oral health conditions, including:

• Cavities (tooth decay)
• Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ)
• Gum disease
• Bone loss
• Infected and inflamed tooth pulp
• Oral cancer

Sometimes, oral imaging is used to design custom dental restorations, like CEREC® same-day crowns. 

Are there different types of dental imaging?

The Pointer Ridge Dental Care team offers several types of dental imaging, including:

Dental X-rays

Dental X-rays use electronic sensors to capture photos of your tooth roots, jaw, and alveolar (the bone that anchors your upper teeth). The images develop instantly, letting your dentist identify potential issues immediately. 

Intraoral digital imaging

Intraoral digital imaging provides clear images of your teeth, gums, tongue, cheeks, and the roof and floor of your mouth. It helps identify potential issues like cavities and gum disease and guides dental implant placement.

Spectra™ cavity detection

Spectra cavity detection uses advanced imaging techniques to identify weak spots (cavities) in your teeth. It lets your dentist apply restorations like fillings and crowns earlier, reducing the risk of severe enamel damage.

CEREC® digital design

Certain tooth injuries, like deep cavities and severely damaged tooth enamel, need repair with dental restorations. CEREC digital design allows the Pointer Ridge Dental Care team to create custom dental crowns onsite, saving patients time. 

Is dental imaging safe?

Dental imaging is safe and presents few risks. Digital X-rays emit small amounts of radiation, but there’s nothing to worry about. Before taking X-rays, your provider places a led apron over your torso to reduce exposure. 

Let the team know if you’re pregnant or nursing. Even though digital X-rays are safe, your provider might recommend a different type of imaging. 

Call Pointer Ridge Dental Care today to schedule dental imaging or book your appointment online.