N
Niki87
Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2025
- Messages
- 87
- Location
- United Kingdom
I would very much appreciate the opinion of any dentists on this forum regarding x-rays.
My question is, how often would you routinely do a set of x-rays on your patients? Is it considered bad practice to not do any for over 10 years or more?
I fully appreciate, as Gordon has said in previous posts that they don’t replace the eyeball etc and I agree, clinical examination is vital as opposed to just ‘treating x-rays’.
The dentist I was with up until recently, I had been under for the last 20 years or so. They are a private UK dentist. I liked them because he had a very caring demeanour, very calming and for someone like me that was a huge bonus. I was more than happy to sit in his chair for 5 minutes, listen to him shout out the numbers then say, everything looks fine, off you go. I have always had 6 monthly checkups and hygiene - I pay a monthly plan. (Although hygeinist cancels a lot so you end up going much longer, but that’s a different issue).
I do remember having a full set of X-rays done when I first joined the practice but am almost certain I haven’t had any since. Only recently on a problem tooth that I had been complaining about during my last 3 checkups! (That tooth has now been extracted by someone else).
It now looks like other work needs doing (not yet sure of extent yet as waiting to get another opinion). From what I have been reading, x-rays should be done around every 24 months to help spot early decay and problems. It makes sense that you would use x-rays in conjunction with clinical examination. I feel I am now facing issues that are causing me a lot of worry and anxiety - not to mention could be very costly, that could potentially have been avoided, or at least treated at the earliest opportunity.
I get that some dentists are a lot more conservative, while others are much more aggressive, and of course you don’t want to be doing anything unnecessary……
I would like to know please, what the general consensus is regarding the importance of routine X-rays and how often they should be done? I am asking so that moving forward, I can try to be a better advocate for myself and ensure I am getting appropriate care. Speaking up for myself is something I have struggled with in the past.
Many thanks
My question is, how often would you routinely do a set of x-rays on your patients? Is it considered bad practice to not do any for over 10 years or more?
I fully appreciate, as Gordon has said in previous posts that they don’t replace the eyeball etc and I agree, clinical examination is vital as opposed to just ‘treating x-rays’.
The dentist I was with up until recently, I had been under for the last 20 years or so. They are a private UK dentist. I liked them because he had a very caring demeanour, very calming and for someone like me that was a huge bonus. I was more than happy to sit in his chair for 5 minutes, listen to him shout out the numbers then say, everything looks fine, off you go. I have always had 6 monthly checkups and hygiene - I pay a monthly plan. (Although hygeinist cancels a lot so you end up going much longer, but that’s a different issue).
I do remember having a full set of X-rays done when I first joined the practice but am almost certain I haven’t had any since. Only recently on a problem tooth that I had been complaining about during my last 3 checkups! (That tooth has now been extracted by someone else).
It now looks like other work needs doing (not yet sure of extent yet as waiting to get another opinion). From what I have been reading, x-rays should be done around every 24 months to help spot early decay and problems. It makes sense that you would use x-rays in conjunction with clinical examination. I feel I am now facing issues that are causing me a lot of worry and anxiety - not to mention could be very costly, that could potentially have been avoided, or at least treated at the earliest opportunity.
I get that some dentists are a lot more conservative, while others are much more aggressive, and of course you don’t want to be doing anything unnecessary……
I would like to know please, what the general consensus is regarding the importance of routine X-rays and how often they should be done? I am asking so that moving forward, I can try to be a better advocate for myself and ensure I am getting appropriate care. Speaking up for myself is something I have struggled with in the past.
Many thanks
