Reading time: 5 minutes
Dental X-rays provide information that cannot always be seen during a visual exam. However, the type and timing of imaging should reflect your current oral health, dental history, symptoms, and treatment needs.
Your Dental X-Ray Schedule Depends on Your Oral Health
There is no single X-ray schedule that applies to every patient. If your teeth and gums are healthy and you have a low risk of cavities, you may be able to go several years between certain types of dental X-rays. If you have active decay, gum disease, new symptoms, or a history of frequent dental problems, you may need imaging more often.
For example, the American Dental Association recommends bitewing X-rays approximately every 24 to 36 months for adults who have no current cavities and are not at increased risk for decay. Adults with cavities, restorations or a higher risk of developing them may need bitewings every 6 to 18 months.
These intervals apply specifically to bitewing X-rays, which are commonly used to look for cavities between the back teeth. Other images, such as panoramic X-rays or CBCT scans, are generally taken when there is a specific reason to use them rather than according to a yearly schedule.
What Changed With the ADA’s 2026 X-Ray Recommendations?
In January 2026, the American Dental Association updated its recommendations for dental imaging for the first time in more than a decade.
For patients, the biggest takeaway is simple: dental X-rays should be based on your individual needs.
Before recommending new images, your dentist may consider:
- Your current oral health
- Whether you have cavities or gum disease
- New pain, swelling, or other symptoms
- Your history of tooth decay
- Previous dental treatment
- X-rays that have already been taken
- Treatment you are considering or preparing for
The ADA’s updated dental imaging recommendations also encourage dentists to review previous images when they are available. This may help avoid repeating an X-ray unnecessarily while giving your dentist a way to compare changes over time.
Why Some Patients Need X-Rays More Often
Two people who visit the dentist on the same schedule may not need X-rays at the same intervals. Your dentist may recommend more frequent or targeted imaging when there is something that needs closer monitoring.
You may need X-rays more often if you have:
- New or recurring cavities
- A history of frequent tooth decay
- Gum disease or bone loss around your teeth
- Tooth pain, swelling, or possible infection
- Dry mouth that increases your risk of cavities
- Broken teeth or damaged dental restorations
- Extensive crowns, bridges, or other dental work
- Dental implants
- A recent injury involving your teeth or jaw
- Changes in how teeth are erupting or developing
- Current need for a dental restoration
X-rays may also be needed when planning certain treatments, including a root canal, dental implant, dental crown, or other restorative procedure.
If you are a new patient, we may ask for X-rays from your previous dental office before taking new ones. If those images are recent and show what we need to see, they may reduce the need to repeat them.
Why Do I Need X-Rays If Nothing Hurts?
Many dental problems do not cause symptoms when they first develop. A tooth can look and feel normal while a cavity is developing between the teeth or changes are occurring around the root or supporting bone.
Dental X-rays may help identify:
- Cavities between teeth
- Decay beneath or around existing restorations
- Bone loss caused by gum disease
- Infection around a tooth root
- Changes around a previously treated tooth
- Impacted or improperly positioned teeth
- Changes in the jawbone
- Tumors or other pathology in the jaw
Finding these problems before they become painful may allow them to be addressed earlier.
What the Different Types of Dental X-Rays Show
You may notice that your dentist does not take the same type of X-ray at every appointment. That is because different images show different areas of your mouth.
- Bitewing X-rays are commonly used to check for cavities between the back teeth and evaluate the bone around them.
- Periapical X-rays show an entire tooth, including its root and surrounding bone. Your dentist may recommend one if you have tooth pain, a possible infection, dental trauma, or concerns about a previously treated tooth.
- Panoramic X-rays capture a broader view of your teeth and jaws in a single image. They may be useful when evaluating impacted teeth, tooth development, the jaw, or other areas that cannot be fully assessed with smaller X-rays.
- Full-mouth X-ray series combine multiple images to provide a detailed look at your teeth and supporting bone. They may be recommended when a more comprehensive view of your oral health is needed.
When Is a CBCT Scan Recommended?
A CBCT scan is different from the smaller X-rays commonly used to look for cavities. It creates a three-dimensional image that allows your dentist to examine your teeth, roots, jawbone, and nearby structures in greater detail.
You may need a CBCT scan for:
- Dental implant planning
- Evaluating bone before certain procedures
- A complex root canal problem
- A suspected tooth or root fracture
- Dental trauma
- Impacted or unusually positioned teeth
- Certain jaw concerns
- Problems involving an existing dental implant
A CBCT scan is not typically used as a routine cavity screening X-ray. It is generally recommended when the additional three-dimensional information could help your dentist make a diagnosis or plan treatment.
Do I Have to Get X-Rays at Every Dental Checkup?
No. Having a dental exam does not automatically mean that you need new X-rays.
At Morris Dental Solutions, we consider your current exam, dental history, symptoms, risk factors, previous images, and treatment needs before recommending additional imaging. Depending on what we need to evaluate, we may use digital X-rays, panoramic imaging, or CBCT technology.
If you are unsure why an X-ray is being recommended, ask. We can explain what we are looking for, how the image may affect your care, and whether previous X-rays provide the information we need.
Personalized Dental Imaging at Morris Dental Solutions
Dental X-rays are an important diagnostic tool, but they do not need to follow the exact same schedule for every patient. The goal is to take the images that provide useful information about your oral health without taking images that are not necessary for your care.
At Morris Dental Solutions, we use digital X-rays, panoramic imaging, and CBCT technology based on each patient’s individual needs. We are proud to use low dose imaging protocols.
To schedule an exam at our dental office in Buffalo Grove, IL, call (847) 215-1511 or visit us at 195 N Arlington Heights Rd Ste 160, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089.
FAQs
Adults with no current cavities and a low risk of decay may have bitewing X-rays every 24 to 36 months. Adults with cavities or increased risk may need them every 6 to 18 months. Your dentist will recommend an interval after evaluating your oral health.
Cavities between teeth, early bone loss, infections, and problems beneath restorations may not cause pain or appear during a visual exam. X-rays can help identify these concerns before symptoms develop.
You can discuss any recommended image with your dentist before deciding. Ask what the X-ray will show, why it is being recommended, and whether a recent image could provide the necessary information. The dentist can also explain if declining imaging may limit diagnosis or treatment planning.
Dental X-rays may be taken during pregnancy when they are clinically necessary. Tell the dental team if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant so they can consider your health history and imaging needs when planning care.
