I was at my dentist yesterday, and they asked if I wanted x-rays again. I mean, I just had them done last year, and nothing was wrong then. So I kinda hesitated and asked if it was really necessary. The hygienist said it's good to catch stuff early, but honestly, it feels like an upsell sometimes. And they're not exactly cheap either.
My sister goes to another dentist who only does x-rays every two or three years unless there's pain or something suspicious going on. She swears by that approach and says it's saved her money without causing any issues. I dunno...part of me worries that skipping could mean missing something important, but part of me feels like I'm throwing cash away just to be safe.
What do you guys usually do—get the x-rays every single year or space 'em out more? I'm curious if anyone’s had experiences either way that made them change their mind.
I've had similar thoughts about this. My dentist also pushes for yearly x-rays, but after doing some digging, it seems like every 2-3 years is pretty common unless you're prone to cavities or have ongoing issues. Personally, I've spaced mine out to every couple of years and haven't had any surprises yet. Maybe it's worth asking your dentist directly why they prefer annual x-rays—could be a policy thing or just extra cautiousness on their part?
I've noticed this question pop up a lot, and honestly, it's understandable. Dentists often vary in their approach based on how conservative or proactive they are. At the practice I work at, we typically recommend annual x-rays for patients who have a history of cavities or gum issues, while others can comfortably go every 2-3 years without any trouble.
Funny enough, I had a patient who insisted on skipping x-rays for about four years because he was convinced everything was fine—no pain, no visible issues. When he finally agreed to an x-ray (mostly out of curiosity), we caught an early cavity between two molars that wasn't visible during regular checkups. It wasn't serious yet, but if he'd waited another year or so...who knows?
So yeah, spacing them out is usually fine if your dental health has been consistently good. But it doesn't hurt to ask your dentist why they're pushing annual scans—they might have specific reasons based on your dental history or even just their own clinical experiences.
