Digital dental X-rays give our dentists a detailed view of what cannot be seen during a visual examination — detecting decay between teeth, assessing bone levels, monitoring roots, and identifying issues early before they develop into more serious problems.
Even a thorough visual examination has limits. Decay that forms between two teeth, infections developing at the tip of a root, bone loss around a tooth, a cyst forming in the jaw — none of these are visible to the naked eye. Dental X-rays give your dentist a window beneath the surface, making it possible to detect and address problems before they become more complex and more costly to treat.
At Smile Spot Mawson Lakes, we use digital X-ray technology across our range of imaging. Digital systems produce images that can be viewed immediately on screen, adjusted for brightness and contrast to highlight specific areas of concern, and stored securely as part of your dental record. Your dentist can walk you through the images during your appointment so you understand what is being assessed.
For patients visiting us from across Mawson Lakes, Parafield, and the broader northern Adelaide region, having access to on-site imaging means your assessment is completed in a single visit rather than requiring a referral to a separate radiology centre for routine diagnostic work.
Bitewing X-rays show the upper and lower back teeth in a single image, with the sensor held between the teeth as you bite down. They are particularly useful for detecting interproximal decay — that is, decay forming in the contact areas between adjacent teeth — as well as monitoring the bone level between teeth. These are the most common X-rays taken at a routine check-up.
A periapical X-ray captures the full length of one or a small number of teeth from the crown all the way to the root tip and the surrounding bone. They are used when there is a specific concern about a tooth — infection, root fracture, root canal assessment, or to evaluate a tooth before extraction.
An OPG is a wide-format X-ray that rotates around your head to capture a single panoramic image showing all your teeth, both jaws, your jaw joints, and the surrounding bone in one view. It is routinely used for orthodontic assessment, wisdom tooth evaluation, implant planning, and to get a broad overview of jaw health. The process takes approximately 15–20 seconds and requires no special preparation.
Digital X-ray sensors are significantly more sensitive than traditional film, which means they require a much lower dose of radiation to produce a clear image — typically 70–80% less than older film-based systems. The image appears on screen within seconds, with no chemical processing required.
The ability to view, zoom, and adjust digital X-ray images at chairside is a practical benefit for both the dentist and the patient. Rather than holding a film up to a light box, your dentist can show you the image on a monitor, point out specific areas, and explain what they are seeing in real time. This makes the diagnostic process more transparent and easier to understand.
Images are stored securely in your electronic record at our Mawson Lakes practice and can be compared to future X-rays to monitor how a particular area changes over time — a particularly useful capability for monitoring the progress of gum disease, tracking areas of concern that are being watched, or evaluating healing after treatment.
Your dentist will recommend X-rays based on clinical need, not habit. For a new patient, a baseline set of X-rays is usually recommended so that your starting point is documented. For existing patients, the frequency depends on your risk profile — patients with a history of decay, active gum disease, or multiple restorations may need X-rays more frequently than patients with a consistently clean dental record.
X-rays are also a critical part of planning many dental procedures, including dental implants, root canal treatment, wisdom tooth removal, and orthodontic treatment. In these contexts, the imaging provides information that is essential for safe and accurate treatment.
If you have concerns about radiation or have questions about why a particular X-ray is being recommended, please ask. We are always happy to explain the clinical reason for any diagnostic image we take at our Mawson Lakes practice.
Digital dental X-rays use significantly less radiation than traditional film X-rays — typically around 70–80% less. The level of radiation from a set of dental X-rays is very low, comparable to the background radiation you receive in everyday life. Your dentist will always use only the X-rays that are clinically necessary and will discuss any concerns you have.
The frequency depends on your individual circumstances, including your dental history, risk of decay, age, and any current concerns. Some patients need X-rays at every check-up; others may only need them every two or three years. Your dentist will recommend an appropriate schedule based on your specific needs, not a one-size-fits-all interval.
An OPG (orthopantomogram) is a panoramic X-ray that captures a single wide image of your entire upper and lower jaw, all your teeth, your jaw joints, and the surrounding bone. It is commonly used for planning orthodontic treatment, assessing wisdom teeth, planning dental implants, or getting an overview of jaw bone health.
The decision to take dental X-rays during pregnancy is made on a case-by-case basis. Digital X-rays involve very low radiation levels, and if an X-ray is clinically necessary, appropriate precautions such as a lead apron are used. If you are pregnant or think you may be, please let your dentist know before any X-rays are taken.
Book an appointment at Smile Spot Mawson Lakes. We use digital imaging to give you a thorough, efficient, and comfortable diagnostic experience.
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