Dental X-Rays in Toronto’s Distillery District

Low-dose digital X-rays that show what the eye can’t — decay between teeth, below old fillings, and in the bone beneath your gums — so problems get caught while they’re still small and quiet.

Why X-rays are part of good dentistry

A visual examination sees roughly two-thirds of each tooth. The rest — the surfaces where teeth touch, the roots, the bone that holds everything in place — is only visible on a radiograph. That’s where a surprising amount of dentistry hides: decay starting between molars, infection at a root tip, bone loss from gum disease, or a crack under an old filling. Caught on an X-ray, most of these are small problems. Caught later, they’re the reason people end up needing root canals they didn’t expect.

The types you might have

• Bitewings — the everyday workhorse, showing where teeth touch and where decay likes to start
• Periapicals — a full view of one tooth from crown to root tip, used when something specific needs investigating
• Panoramic — a single wide image of both jaws, useful for wisdom teeth, jaw joints, and overall structure
• Full series — a complete set, usually taken with your complete oral exam to establish a baseline

How we keep the dose low

Dental radiographs are among the lowest-dose imaging in medicine, and the studio uses digital sensors rather than film, which cuts exposure substantially and puts the image on screen in seconds. We follow the principle every dental office should: take radiographs when there’s a clinical reason to, not on autopilot. That means your history, your risk of decay, and what we can see in your mouth decide the schedule — not the calendar.

You’ll be given a lead apron with a thyroid collar for every exposure, and we’re glad to explain what we’re looking for before we take anything. Digital images also mean you can see them on screen with us — an X-ray is much less abstract when someone points at the dark spot and explains what it is.

Coverage in Ontario

Radiographs fall under diagnostic services on most Ontario dental plans, which typically reimburse them at or near the same generous rate as exams — and most plans reimburse in line with standard Ontario dental plan guidelines. Plans usually set frequency limits (how often bitewings or a full series are covered), and we track those for you so nothing is taken sooner than your plan allows without you knowing first.

X-rays are included among covered services for patients with the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), subject to program rules. As always, we confirm coverage before your visit — see insurance options and payment options.

Straight answers

Are dental X-rays safe?

Yes — dental radiography uses a very small amount of radiation, and digital sensors reduce it further compared with traditional film. Protective aprons and thyroid collars lower it again. The genuine risk in dentistry is rarely the X-ray; it’s the decay or infection that goes undetected because no one looked.

How often should I have dental X-rays?

It depends on you. Someone with a history of decay, gum disease, or extensive dental work needs images more often than someone whose mouth has been boringly healthy for a decade. A common rhythm for low-risk adults is bitewings every one to two years, with a full series much less frequently — but we’ll recommend based on your actual risk and explain why.

Can I have dental X-rays while pregnant?

Dental X-rays are considered safe during pregnancy with standard shielding, and untreated dental infection poses a greater risk to you than a low-dose radiograph does. That said, we’ll typically defer routine imaging and take only what’s clinically necessary. Tell us you’re expecting when you book so we can plan accordingly.

Can I bring X-rays from my previous dentist?

Please do — recent radiographs save you both exposure and expense. With one signed form we can request them from your previous office directly. If they’re current and diagnostic quality, we’ll use them rather than repeating them. Just mention it when you book.

Related care

X-rays work alongside your complete oral exam and cleanings, and they’re how we catch the decay that becomes a filling before it becomes something larger. Browse all preventative dentistry at the studio.

Seeing clearly is the whole point

Book a visit at our Distillery District studio and we’ll take only the images your mouth actually calls for — and show you exactly what they mean.