Usetobe dental asst - 11/8/2022 18:01

Routine dental X-rays (called bitewings) are usually recommended every 12-24 months for adults, and some sort of a full mouth series, which can be 16-18 individual small X-rays or a panoramic image, every 3-5 years. Many offices alternate between these two types of full mouth series because different things can be seen on both. You certainly have a right to request no X-rays, but the dentist is obligated to practice within “the standard of care”, and not doing X-rays in a timely manner can be considered negligent. I have many crowns and I want those crowns monitored very closely, so I choose to see my hygienist every three months and have two examinations done by the dentist each year. I also have routine bitewing X-rays every year (again I want those crowns monitored closely, and if I get decay, I want it caught when it’s small).