Dentist question re X-ray

Hi! I'm Joe's wife and I am a dentist.  First let me explain what dental xrys are typicallly taken and what there purpose is intended to be.  There is the panorex xry which will show all the teeth, and surrounding structures but it is not usually considered diagnostic for dental decay (however the new digital xry systems are now usually good enough to possilbly be able to diagnose cavities).  A full series of xrys, or also called an FMX, are individual films taken of all the teeth (in my office it is a series of 19 films).  This series is taken every 3-5 years and is the most diagnostic for dental decay but doesn't show all the surrounding areas like a pano does.  You can see the bony area simply around the teeth but nothing more.  Annually a series of 2-4 films called bitewing xrys should be taken to diagnose dental decay.  The bitewing xrys focus on the molars, which is the most common area to find decay between the teeth.  

Whether or not xrys are taken and the type of xry recommended is variable based on the patient. In my office a new adult patient that has teeth would have an FMX, a teenager would have a pano and 4 bws (to evaluate wisdom teeth and surrounding teeth), an edentulous patient would have a pano. If I have a healthy adult that has been coming to my office for years and they have not had any cavities and it is time to either take a FMX or pano, I would probably recommend a pano if we do not have one on record.  It is definitely a good idea to have a pano taken.  I have had several patients that were diagnosed with cysts/tumors that showed up on the pano.  It can save lives.

Unfortunately, patients allow insurance companies to decide for them what treatment they will accept.  It is insurance companies that have decided to pay for these xrys every 3-5 years and cleanings twice a year, therefore that is when most patients have them taken.  Just because insurance pays for something doesn't mean that is what the patient needs either.  A 40 year old patient who has never had a cavity doesn't need to be exposed to 19 films every 3 years. It might be a good idea however to take a pano so you can evaluate all the surrounding tissues.

The fee you mentioned ($75) is a typical fee depending on your location.  In my area that is very close to the standard.  In my opinion, your dentist provided you a good diagnostic service for a reasonable fee.  I am glad nothing was found, you are lucky.  Oral health is linked to all areas of the body and the pano xry can diagnose problems associated with other areas of the body before you know there is a problem and cancer is a big one. 

What an excellent reply - thank you for taking the time to respond to my question.

Rob