“Is an X-ray required for braces?”
I am a 19 year old female. I want to know if an X-ray is required for braces?
15 Answers
Absolutely! The benefit from an information your orthodontist gains from an X-ray far outweighs the risk.
This is a complicated question, but the short answer is "Yes, x-rays are strongly recommended if you are planning to get orthodontic treatment." When we move teeth, we are actually creating an inflammatory reaction that removes and redeposits bone around your teeth, and X-rays help us see how much bone you have, and what is located in your bone around the roots of your teeth, as well as the general shape of your roots as well. Depending on the shape or size of your roots, you may not be a good candidate for traditional braces, or you may not have enough bone to perform your treatment successfully, and may need some grafting. Some people also have extra teeth that can get in the way (that they don't know about), or other abnormalities like tumors or cysts. The risks of radiation has been greatly reduced due to the advancement in the technology behind radiographs, so many dental radiographs today expose you to less radiation than when you fly on a plane, or take a stroll in the sun. So the benefit of making sure you are being safe with your braces outweighs the risk. But if you are concerned for other reasons (like being pregnant or having already been through chemo or radiation therapy), then you can consult your orthodontist directly. Hope this helps!
Yes, we need to see the roots of all of the teeth, see if there are any extra teeth, or stuck teeth or something else going on
Absolutely. The doctor need to know if there are any underlying problems with the teeth or supporting bone before beginning treatment.
Dr. Yoram Kohanzadeh
Orthodontist
In California, it is required by state law. And you shouldn't move teeth without it. A tooth is like an iceberg. Only part of it is above the surface. Orthodontists are trained in looking for things that could cause you to lose teeth or damage other parts of your mouth, like your gums and bones. I've had patients that we have had to tell they are going to lose a front tooth because something was growing behind it and had already destroyed most of their root (the part holding your tooth in your jaw bones). And unfortunately the patient had no idea and said, "But I didn't have any pain."
Yes, an OPG and a Lateral Ceph X-ray are required.
Yes, in order to diagnose your problems correctly, an X-ray is required. Orthodontists need to asses your bone health as well as the position and health of the roots of your teeth.
YES, TO EVALUATE BONE & TOOTH STRUCTURE
An X-ray is needed for braces in order to see the angulation of the roots of the teeth and to assure the health of the teeth and the bone around the teeth.
You can rest assured that X-rays of facial structures and teeth are safe and very necessary to properly interpret the position of teeth in supporting bone and the horizontal/vertical relationships of upper and lower jaws to the face. I would refuse to treat anyone without X-rays and this is just one important reason DIY orthodontics is a foolish adventure. What you see visually is not what the orthodontist needs to know.
YES, several X-rays are very necessary before any braces can be designed for you!!
Yes to see the roots of the teeth.
Yes, we need to see the bone level and quality around the roots of your teeth and the length of your roots. All of this goes into the diagnosis.
Yes. Ideally, we need an oral examination, clinical and radiographically. We take X-rays first. We need a detailed dental and oral examination before braces.
Yes an X-ray is generally required to plan for your braces. A panorex and a cephalometric x-ray are usually required to plan for the braces to have a nice final result.
