Oral health is an important component of your overall health, and dental X-rays allow dentists get the full picture of how your teeth are doing. Dental X-rays are important because they can show problems that might not be visible during traditional dental exams.¹

Because of dental X-rays’ preventive role in tooth care, most insurance policies will cover 100% of the costs.² Without dental insurance, X-rays can cost hundreds of dollars, so having dental insurance can help you mitigate costs and catch issues like cavities or an impacted tooth early on.

Introduction to dental X-rays

Dental X-rays are a diagnostic tool that allow dentists to see beneath the surface of your teeth and gums. X-rays work by passing electromagnetic radiation through the body, producing an image that reveals what’s happening inside the body.³ This allows dentists to get a more complete picture than they would with just a physical examination, showing things like tooth infections, cavities under a filling or dental crown, jaw problems, and bone loss from gum disease that wouldn’t visible to the naked eye.⁴

Once your dentist sees an issue, they can address it. Catching concerns early could makes them easier and less costly to address. Even if you don’t have any deeper issues, dental X-rays can confirm that your teeth are indeed healthy.

There are a few different types of dental X-rays in general dentistry; here are three of the most common:

• Bitewing X-rays: This type of X-ray shows the crowns of your teeth, allowing dentists to inspect for any issues like fillings that need replacement or new cavities. The dentist or dental hygienist will take these X-rays by asking you to bite down on a small sensor or piece of film multiple times so that they can get images from multiple angles.⁴
• Periapical X-rays: This type of X-ray is similar to bitewings, but it gets a little deeper to look at your tooth roots and below the gumline. This allows your dentist to examine the health of your tooth roots and jaw bones.⁵
• Panoramic X-rays: This type of X-ray is taken in one long image rather than multiple shorter images. A panoramic X-ray will produce one large film that shows your jaws and your teeth, including wisdom teeth, as well as surrounding sinuses, nerves, and joints.⁴

Benefits and risks of dental X-rays

Dental X-rays are an important part of maintaining your oral health because they allow a more complete examination of the state of your teeth, gums, jaw bones, and other areas. Your dentist can’t treat something they don’t know exists, so X-rays can help them create the best dental plan and treatment for you. Dental X-rays can provide your dentist with more detailed information on:

• Tooth number, size, and position
• Tooth decay, also known as dental caries or cavities
• Tooth infection
• Bone loss cause by gum disease
• Jaw issues, like fractures or lesions
• Any other abnormalities⁵

Regular dental X-rays should enable your dentist to catch issues early, before they develop into a major dental problem. For example, your dentist could find a cavity that wasn’t yet causing you pain and would not be visible from a standard examination. 

When cavities aren’t found and treated, they can grow and damage deeper layers of your teeth.⁶ In the worst cases, untreated cavities can become abscesses, which are infections that can spread to other parts of the body and have serious consequences — sometimes even death.⁷

X-rays might also allow your dentist to discover if a wisdom tooth needs to be removed because it could throw off your tooth positioning as it comes in, thus possibly saving you the time and expense of braces.

Dental X-rays are considered safe. The amount of radiation from four bitewing X-rays is comparable to level of radiation the average airline passenger is exposed to.⁵

Dental professionals take certain safety measures to mitigate and minimize these risks. Your dentist should:

• Take X-rays only as needed based on your specific needs and situation
• Ask your previous dentist for X-rays instead of taking new ones
• Use digital sensors instead of film, or use low-radiation film
• Focus the X-ray beam on the smallest area possible⁴

Your dentist may still use lead aprons and thyroid collars as protective shields, but they’re no longer recommended by the American Dental Association. Experts have determined that these shields aren’t necessary, and that using modern X-ray technology and focusing the X-ray beam on a small, specific area are better forms of protection.⁸

Understanding dental X-ray procedures

Getting dental X-rays is a simple, fast procedure. They only take a few minutes and are painless. Here’s what you can expect:

• Your dentist or dental hygienist will guide you through the process — you will simply have to follow their directions.
• If they’re taking bitewing or periapical X-rays, they will position the film or sensor inside your mouth and ask you to bite down to hold it in place. They will then step back and hit a button to take an image. They will repeat this process in various positions until they have images of all your teeth from the crowns to the roots.
• If they’re taking a panoramic X-ray, you will stand in front of the X-ray machine and your dentist or dental hygienist will position your mouth and teeth correctly with a bite-blocker. The arm of the X-ray machine will rotate around your head to take one sweeping image.⁹
• No matter the type of X-ray, you should hold very still during the process to get the best images.

There’s no special preparation needed for getting dental X-rays, other than removing any jewelry, glasses, metal objects, or dentures. While X-rays are painless, you might experience discomfort from the placement of the sensors inside your mouth.¹⁰

No aftercare or recovery time will be needed. You will be ready to carry on with your day normally immediately after.

Insurance coverage and costs of dental X-rays

Insurance can help you access the preventive care of regular dental X-rays without surprise costs. Most dental insurance plans will cover dental X-rays 100%, making them effectively free. 

For example, MetLife’s dental insurance plans cover various types of X-rays, including bitewing, periapical, and panoramic X-rays. Each type serves a different diagnostic purpose, and coverage ensures comprehensive evaluation of oral health. Here’s a more detailed look at what MetLife’s dental insurance process is like for X-rays coverage:

• Easy-to-access in-network providers: MetLife's network includes many dentists who offer X-ray services, so policyholders can access covered care without incurring additional out-of-pocket expenses. Whatever dental insurance plan you have, check to see which dentists in your area are in-network, and whether there is a limit on how often you can get X-rays before you make an appointment.
• A streamlined claims process: With MetLife dental insurance, when a dentist performs X-rays, they will submit a claim to MetLife on behalf of the patient. The insurance plan will then process the claim according to the coverage, and the patient will be informed of any remaining costs, if applicable.

Without insurance, dental X-rays can cost hundreds of dollars. But with insurance, the costs of X-rays as part of diagnostic and preventive dental care are either fully covered or greatly reduced, making regular dental visits more affordable.

Dental X-rays cost comparison

Here’s a look at some sample costs, based on MetLife’s dental insurance offerings. Keep in mind that costs can vary depending on your plan’s coverage.

If you are a MetLife dental insurance member, you can review your policy by accessing an online portal and using the available tools. For example, here’s how to check your dental X-ray coverage using MetLife’s MyBenefits portal:

• Look on your plan summary: Next to each of the service categories (preventive, basic, major), is a percentage. That’s the percentage MetLife will pay for covered services, and you’ll be responsible for the rest. X-rays falls under the preventive care category.
• Look at out-of-pocket costs: Next, check to see if the plan has an annual deductible — that’s the amount you’ll have to pay each year before your benefits kick in.
• Check the annual maximum benefit: That’s the most MetLife will pay in a year. There’s also a difference between the individual maximum (for each family member) and the family annual maximum (which applies to the total that is paid for everyone in your family).

No matter what dental insurance you have, typically, you can access your account and information about coverage just as you can with MetLife. So be sure to check how preventive care like getting X-rays is covered before you go to the dentist.

Frequency and timing of dental X-rays

How often you get dental X-rays will be determined by your dentist based on your unique situation. Your dentist will determine if X-rays are needed and how often based on your current oral health, your history, your age, your disease risk, and any present symptoms of potential dental issues. 

Current American Dental Association guidance recommends only taking X-rays when your dentist believes they’re necessary to achieve your best dental health.¹

There are times when dental X-rays might be needed more frequently. Here are some of the common situations in which X-rays might be recommended:

• During childhood and teenage years: Since their teeth and jaws are still developing, children and teens may need more frequent X-rays than adults.¹
• When you are showing symptoms of other issues: Dentists may recommend more X-rays when it looks like you might have a more serious issue.
• When you’re at high risk for tooth decay or periodontal disease: Seniors are often at more risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease, and may require more frequent X-rays.¹¹

Dental X-ray technology and alternatives

Dental X-ray technology is always evolving, as companies seek more effective and painless ways to capture and interpret images. Technologies using AI to analyze X-rays are starting to pop up, aiming to help dentists diagnose dental conditions based on X-rays.¹²

These technologies include alternatives to traditional dental X-rays, like digital imaging and 3D scans. Digital X-rays, which use sensors and a computer, are another option. All forms of dental X-rays are considered safe and carry very low risk.

Safety guidelines and radiation exposure

While dental X-rays carry a very low risk, there are recommended safety protocols that dentists follow. Those include:

• Only taking X-rays as needed based on your specific needs and situation — this might include asking your previous dentist for recent X-rays instead of taking new ones
• Using digital sensors instead of film
• Focusing the X-ray beam on the smallest area possible
• Positioning patients for the best image possible
• Using cone beam CT X-rays only when needed
• Following all radiation safety regulations⁸

All these measures help minimize radiation exposure during X-rays, which is the main risk associated with X-rays.

Dental X-rays are considered safe for both children and pregnant women. Children are more sensitive to X-rays than adults , but the ADA still recommends that children get regular X-rays as recommended by their dentist to ensure their teeth and jaws develop normally.1 Pregnant women do not have elevated risks and can see a dentist and receive X-rays as recommended throughout their pregnancy.¹²

Dental X-rays and Your Oral Health

Dental X-rays are a very important preventive measure in your long-term oral health. Being able to catch any dental issues early, like cavities, enables your dentist to treat them quickly and save you from possible complications down the road.

Dental insurance can help lower the cost of dental X-rays. Understanding your dental insurance policy and knowing how your dental X-rays are covered will enable you to get regular imaging and stay on top of your oral health. 

If you have questions about your dental X-ray coverage, you can check your insurance coverage on your patient portal, or reach out to your insurance provider. They will help you access the preventive care available to you, so you can achieve the best outcome with healthy teeth and a happy wallet.