New dentist - no X-rays?

TinyT

Hi, just started with a new dentist as my previous dentist closed his practice. Having a few fillings replaced, and a crown (no root canal) on a tooth I had broken. I'm a bit surprised that my new dentist has taken no x-rays at all, as my last dentist seemed to take them every time there was a discussion about a tooth. Should I be asking for x-rays?

ballsymchugh

a dentist needs to justify taking xrays, so maybe he/she feels it's not necessary. having said that, you may get them yet as treatment progresses.

TinyT

Thanks Ballsymchugh....I've had the fillings replaced and am wearing a temporary crown, still no x-rays. Was really surprised that the work on the crown went ahead without an x-ray, I kinda assumed an x-ray would be needed to check the roots were ok etc,as I've had no root canal on the tooth. I'd gotten used to my previous dentist taking an x-ray more or less every time there was work to be done.

ballsymchugh

ok, i was assuming you just had the check up and were awaiting treatment. personally, i would've x-rayed for a crown at least.

however, in the uk we do courses every few years to refresh on x-rays and that kinda stuff where we get told that we're taking too many x-rays and that if we keep going at the rate we do, we'll be reported to the dental council.
then we'll have some schmuck from the NHS tell us that we don't take enough, and that we could be reported to the dental council, so we just end up finding a happy medium and using common sense.

work

X-rays would often be made for new patients and are required for advanced treatment like crowns. Perhaps the dentist got your previous notes? You cannot get a comprehensive answer here as we do not know your exact situation.

TinyT

Thanks for the replies, I know I can't get an exact answer online. I didn't get any notes or xrays from my old dentist to pass to my new dentist.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Your dentist should have taken an X-ray...end of discussion, it may not be a problem but you will only know that by taking the xray and looking. Sorry to be so blunt but it cut and dried.

TinyT

Thanks Fitzgeme, I like "straight-talking" so no problem at all with the bluntness! You've confirmed my instinct.

Oral Surgeon

Kaliyah Short Leprechaun wrote: »

Your dentist should have taken an X-ray...end of discussion, it may not be a problem but you will only know that by taking the xray and looking. Sorry to be so blunt but it cut and dried.

I'll second that, I remember dental school very well- x-ray first, treat second...

TinyT

Thanks Oralsurgeon, not the best start for the new dentist-patient relationship....

davo10

TinyT, are you experiencing any symptoms from this tooth?, is it sensitive to hot/cold?, is it tender when biting?, is there decay around the margins of the filling or visible through the enamel?, presumably this was examined before the crown prep and pathology was ruled out. Did you have x-rays at your last visit with your previous dentist and were those x-rays clear?. Is the crown now necessary because a part of the tooth fractured due to there being little tooth structure remaining to retain the filling? i.e crown is necessary for structural rather than patholological reasons. Did you inform your new dentist that x-rays were taken within the last year and everything was ok?.

TinyT

davo10 wrote: »

TinyT, are you experiencing any symptoms from this tooth?, is it sensitive to hot/cold?, is it tender when biting?, is there decay around the margins of the filling or visible through the enamel?, presumably this was examined before the crown prep and pathology was ruled out. Did you have x-rays at your last visit with your previous dentist and were those x-rays clear?. Is the crown now necessary because a part of the tooth fractured due to there being little tooth structure remaining to retain the filling? i.e crown is necessary for structural rather than patholological reasons. Did you inform your new dentist that x-rays were taken within the last year and everything was ok?.

Lots of questions Davo10 - thanks for asking! No sensitivity to hot/cold, no tenderness, no decay visible. Huge filling in it and part of the tooth broke off - so yes, too little tooth structure left was the reason for the crown. I don't recall anything about an x-ray of this tooth from the previous dentist (I had so many of them). I'm pretty sure this tooth has been refilled a few times, but I kinda relied on my old dentist having my history and didn't keep notes myself. I've no idea when it was last x-rayed (I've a lot of fillings). The only mention of x-rays I had with the new dentist was that my previous guy used them a lot and I asked the new dentist if he would be taking some since I was a new patient. He told me he planned to take them only re the crown....but then no x-ray.

davo10

So your previous dentist took lots of xrays and they did not show any pathology on this tooth, the tooth fractured (probably a cusp or buccal/lingual/palatal wall) revealing no decay, but there was insufficient tooth structure remaining to support/retain a filling in the longterm and your new dentist advised you that to ensure the long term survival of the tooth a crown was necessary?

TinyT

davo10 wrote: »

So your previous dentist took lots of xrays and they did not show any pathology on this tooth, the tooth fractured (probably a cusp or buccal/lingual/palatal wall) revealing no decay, but there was insufficient tooth structure remaining to support/retain a filling in the longterm and your new dentist advised you that to ensure the long term survival of the tooth a crown was necessary?

I'm really not sure what the previous x-rays did or did not reveal about this particular tooth. Lots of x-rays, lots of fillings, I've lost track of what was or was not said about each tooth.

Part of this tooth broke off - one of the 4 "edges" holding in the filling, it broke to gum level - sorry I don't understand the more technical terms. My new dentist filled it as a temporary fix, and advised the crown was necessary.

So I had no info re x-rays to give to the new dentist - and there was nothing going on re the tooth to suggest there is a problem - yet I still somehow assumed an x-ray would be advisable.

lastlaugh

I've recently started going to a Dentist, I've had an upper Molar removed, a new filling, and am going to have two old filling replaced, all top Molars.

The Dentist is old and experienced and I trust him.

Last time I was there he took 2 Bite-Wing X-rays on my upper teeth.

I'm by no means an expert but I would have thought these x-rays were standard practice for a Dentist to detect decay between teeth...

TinyT

Thanks Lastlaugh, what your dentist has done is kinda what I was expecting.

lastlaugh

TinyT wrote: »

Thanks Lastlaugh, what your dentist has done is kinda what I was expecting.

You're welcome.

In fact, when I was there last week, a younger Dentist came in to ask his advice on an x-ray from another patient, my Dentist took a look at it and advised him to take another one!

I'm really happy with my Dentist and am actually looking forward to each visit knowing I'm in good hands and gradually getting my teeth taken care of.

I don't think I would be able to continue seeing someone if I had any doubts about their judgement.

If you are on the North side of Dublin I could PM you the Dentist I'm seeing

TinyT

Sounds like you're very happy with your Dentist, Lastlaughs, and it's great that you're getting your teeth sorted out.

North side of Dublin wouldn't work for me, but thanks v. much for the offer.