I get where you’re coming from with the x-rays, but honestly, I’d rather they do one too many than miss something. Last year, my ortho caught a sneaky cavity under a bracket just because of an “extra” x-ray. Still, I totally question if they all matter... or if it’s just routine. And yeah, my tongue is basically CSI: Mouth Edition after every adjustment—can’t help it.
And yeah, my tongue is basically CSI: Mouth Edition after every adjustment—can’t help it.
That’s too real. I swear, after every wire change, I’m running my tongue over every bracket and edge like I’m scanning for malware. It’s almost instinct at this point.
On the x-ray thing, I get the skepticism. I’m usually wary of unnecessary scans—radiation exposure, cost, all that. But I had a similar experience to yours. My dentist ordered what felt like an extra set of bitewings during my last round of aligners. Turns out, there was a micro-crack in one molar that wasn’t visible on the standard panoramic. If he hadn’t caught it, I’d probably have a fractured tooth by now. So, while I’m not a fan of routine just for the sake of it, sometimes the extra data actually does something.
Still, I wonder if there’s a smarter way to handle it. Like, why not use some kind of AI-assisted imaging? We’ve got machine learning for everything else—why not dental x-rays? Seems like it could flag anomalies that even the human eye might miss, and maybe cut down on redundant images.
Pain-wise, the worst part for me was the first two weeks of aligners. Felt like my teeth were in a vice. I tried to distract myself with podcasts, but every time I bit down, it was like static in my brain. Didn’t help that the attachments they glued on felt like Lego bricks glued to my teeth. But after that, it got way easier. Now I barely notice unless I forget to put them back in after eating (which, yeah, happens more than I’d admit).
Insurance was another headache. They covered the basics, but anything “extra”—like those additional scans—was out of pocket. Not a huge deal, but it adds up.
Overall, not the worst experience, but definitely not something I’d volunteer for again. The tech is cool, but I’d rather be building a PC than sitting in the chair with my mouth open for an hour.
Turns out, there was a micro-crack in one molar that wasn’t visible on the standard panoramic. If he hadn’t caught it, I’d probably have a fractured tooth by now.
That’s wild, but I’m still not sure about all those extra scans. How often do they actually find something serious? I worry dentists just default to more x-rays “just in case” and rack up the bill. Maybe I’m just paranoid, but it feels like overkill sometimes.
Also, did anyone else get told different things by different dentists? My first ortho said I needed monthly x-rays, but my second opinion said every six months was fine. Hard to know who’s right.
I get what you mean about the x-rays. My kid’s dentist wanted extra scans during braces, and honestly, it made me nervous—both about the radiation and the cost. But then again, when my son had a weird toothache, those extra images actually showed a problem his regular checkup missed. It’s tough to know where to draw the line. I wish there was a clear rule that all dentists followed, because getting different advice just makes it more stressful as a parent.
TOOTH X-RAYS DURING BRACES: NECESSARY OR OVERKILL?
I totally get the anxiety around x-rays—especially when you’re hit with the bill after. It can feel like every visit, they want “just one more scan,” right? But honestly, those extra images can be a lifesaver. My daughter had braces last year, and the orthodontist wanted a panoramic x-ray halfway through. I was skeptical, but it turned out she had a sneaky little cavity hiding behind a bracket. No symptoms, nothing visible, but there it was on the scan.
Radiation is a fair concern, but dental x-rays use pretty minimal doses these days—less than what you’d get from a cross-country flight. Still, it bugs me that there’s no standard guideline. One dentist says yearly, another says every six months, and you’re left wondering who’s right. I wish there was a “parent’s cheat sheet” for this stuff.
At the end of the day, I try to balance my inner worrywart with some trust in the process. If something feels off or excessive, I just ask “Is this really necessary?” Sometimes they’ll explain and sometimes they’ll admit it’s just routine. Either way, I’d rather have too much info than miss something important.
