Can I avoid dental x-ray for deep cleaning treatment?

[kenny siu]

I was advised by the periodontal specialist that deep cleaning treatment was necessary for me, although I was determined to have mild to moderate periodontal disease without much bone loss after taking the first full mouth x-ray.

The nurse explained to me that the deep cleaning treatment will involve taking further x-ray to investigate the parts of teeth during or after the treatment. I'd like to know if I can avoid taking those x-rays since I have already taken a lot of x-rays recently (full mouth for two at different clinics within a month). I know the dose is small, but radiation is real, is it really necessary after deep cleaning treatment to take further x-rays?

 

[Plaza Dental Group]

You’ve asked a really great question and one that most dentists wish their patients understood – cleanings vary depending on the health of a patient’s mouth. There are typically two types of cleanings: preventive and periodontal. A preventive cleaning is your routine cleaning that accompanies an exam, x-rays, oral cancer screening, periodontal screening, and oral hygiene instruction. Periodontal treatments involve deep cleanings or maintenance cleanings due to deep areas of bone loss, tissue detachment, and buildup that is inaccessible to patients during normal oral hygiene, requiring more attention by the hygienist.