Dental X-rays are usually performed annually. They can be taken more often if your dentist is monitoring the progress of a dental problem or treatment.
Factors affecting how often you get dental X-rays may include:
- your age
- your current oral health
- any symptoms of oral disease
- a history of gum disease or tooth decay
If you’re a new patient, you’ll probably undergo dental X-rays, particularly if you don’t have X-rays available from your previous dentist.
Children may need to undergo dental X-rays more often than adults because their dentists might need to monitor the growth of their permanent teeth.
X-rays can help the dentist determine if the baby teeth need to be pulled to prevent complications.