Dental X-Rays in Ottawa: When They Are Needed and How Safety Is Managed

Dental X-rays can help a dentist see areas that are difficult or impossible to assess by looking in the mouth alone. They may show changes between teeth, below the gumline, around roots or within the jaw. That does not mean every patient needs the same images on the same schedule.

Health Canada states that dental X-rays should be based on a clinical examination and taken to obtain diagnostic information, provide safe and efficient treatment or monitor treatment. Routine screening without a prior clinical assessment and a reason for the image is not recommended.

What can a dental X-ray show?

A visual examination remains essential, but it cannot reveal every part of a tooth or its supporting structures. Depending on the situation, an X-ray may help the dentist assess:

• areas between teeth where early decay may be difficult to see;
• bone levels supporting the teeth;
• tooth roots and the tissues around them;
• developing or unerupted teeth;
• changes associated with pain, swelling or trauma; and
• information needed to plan or monitor treatment.

An X-ray is only one part of an assessment. The dentist interprets it together with symptoms, medical and dental history, clinical findings and previous records.

Common types of dental X-rays

An intra-oral X-ray uses a small receptor inside the mouth and usually shows a limited group of teeth in detail. Bitewing images can show the crowns of upper and lower teeth together, including the spaces between them. A periapical image can show an entire tooth, including its root and surrounding bone.

Extra-oral imaging places the receptor outside the mouth. A panoramic X-ray produces a broad two-dimensional view of the teeth and jaws. Cone-beam computed tomography, or CBCT, creates three-dimensional information and may be considered for specific diagnostic or treatment-planning needs. It is not a routine substitute for lower-dose two-dimensional imaging.

Are dental X-rays safe?

Dental X-rays use ionizing radiation, so they should not be taken unnecessarily. Health Canada describes the radiation dose from each dental exposure as low and says the individual risk from a single optimized examination is low relative to other medical imaging procedures. The benefit of a justified examination can outweigh the radiation risk when the image is needed for diagnosis, treatment or monitoring.

Safety involves justification and optimization. There should be a clinical reason for the image, and the equipment and technique should obtain the needed information with the lowest practical dose. Health Canada’s Safety Code 30 provides guidance on equipment, procedures, quality assurance and radiation protection.

Why the schedule is different for each patient

There is no responsible one-size-fits-all timetable. A person with new pain, frequent decay or an area being monitored may need imaging sooner than someone whose oral health and previous records are stable. Children and adolescents have changing teeth and jaws, but imaging should still follow a clinical examination and an expected health benefit.

If you are changing dental offices, ask whether previous images can be transferred. Health Canada advises a new dentist to try to obtain earlier X-ray information rather than automatically repeating images. Older images may not answer a current question, but sharing them can help avoid unnecessary duplication.

Pregnancy and dental X-rays

Tell the dental team if you are pregnant or might be pregnant. Health Canada’s current guidance notes that radiation to a fetus from dental X-rays is extremely low when the abdomen is not directly exposed. The dentist can consider urgency, expected benefit and appropriate precautions. Needed care should be assessed individually; do not postpone urgent symptoms without speaking with a qualified professional.

For more context, read our article on dental care during pregnancy in Ottawa.

Questions you can ask

• What clinical question will this image help answer?
• Are usable recent images available from my previous dentist?
• Which type of image is recommended and why?
• Could the result change diagnosis, treatment or monitoring?
• Are there pregnancy or health details I should mention?

Book a dental assessment in Ottawa

If you have pain, swelling, sensitivity, trauma or another oral-health concern, an examination can determine whether imaging would add useful information. Ottawa Smiles Family Dental provides clinical care in English and Arabic, with Spanish care available with Dr. Marisol Seguel as appropriate for the appointment. French front-desk and administrative support is available for scheduling and office information; this does not imply French-language clinical care.

Request an appointment or call 613-520-0222. For urgent symptoms, call the office. Difficulty breathing or swallowing requires emergency care.

This article is general education and does not replace an individual dental examination or medical advice.

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