Is it possible that a tooth infection could not show up on a dentist's x-ray??
Answers: There is ALWAYS more damage in the mouth than is visible on an x-ray. An x-ray can only show degrees of contrast and until there is X amount of hard tissue destruction, it just does not show on an x-ray. In the early stages of any problem, the history and symptoms are probably more important than an x-ray. An x-ray is often just the test that confirms what we already know from the patient's history and symptoms.
To answer your question then, absolutely yes, it is possible that a tooth infection does not (yet) show up on a dental x-ray.
anything is possible or probable
yes. infections wouldnt show up. bones do. struscture does. infection he has to see. and sometimes, it in the tooth or some nook in there adn they can't. tlel him where it hurts. if he cant find it or fix it, find another dentist
It would not show up. An x-ray would not show any infection bone and root material only
Yes, this is possible--I use to work as a dental assisant & have seen this before-I have seen people have a tooth ache that they can not absolutely pin-point the location but have had the area x-rayed, to find nothing on the x-ray. Sometimes they can come back in a few days & it will show up. I have also seen that it has not even been a tooth ache causing the pain. Pains that feel like it is teeth can sometime come from sinus or ear infections. Try taking some Ibuprophen-tylenol to ease the discomfort & if the pain continues go back to the dentist & let him know what is going on. Good Luck!
Dr Sam is on the money, so I can't improve on his answer. What wasn't touched on, however, is that some infections (despite what other people have said) DO show up on the xray. With a long term infection (call a Chronic Apical Periodontitis), you will often see the abcess at the tip of the root; it's a dark bubble, 2-5mm in diameter.
WHETHER OR NOT AN INFECTION SHOWS UP ON AN X-RAY DEPENDS MORE ON HOW LONG IT'S BEEN THERE.
IN ACUTE INFECTIONS VS. CHRONIC INFECTIONS THERE WOULD BE DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE.
FOR A CHRONIC INFECTION THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR SOME TIME, THE BONE DENSITY WILL SHOW A SHADOW THAT CAN BE EASILY SEEN ON AN X-RAY. THE FORMER CASE MAY NOT SHOW ANY DIFFERENCE AT ALL. IN THIS CASE THE SYMPTOMS GIVE MORE EVIDENCE FOR THE NEED OF TREATMENT.
BOTH DR. SAM AND DR. SWANSON ARE CORRECT!
If a tooth is infected, the tooth nerve will gradually die. Our bodies can't tolerate dead tissue, so it will wall off the infected area. This is an abscess. It takes time for the abscessed area to effect the bone around the tooth so it will show on an xray. The tooth could be dead and thus infected and still not show on an xray. The dentist will go by symptoms. The gums could be infected and that would also not show on an xray. The dentist would use symptoms to differentiate.
To answer your question then, absolutely yes, it is possible that a tooth infection does not (yet) show up on a dental x-ray.
anything is possible or probable
yes. infections wouldnt show up. bones do. struscture does. infection he has to see. and sometimes, it in the tooth or some nook in there adn they can't. tlel him where it hurts. if he cant find it or fix it, find another dentist
It would not show up. An x-ray would not show any infection bone and root material only
Yes, this is possible--I use to work as a dental assisant & have seen this before-I have seen people have a tooth ache that they can not absolutely pin-point the location but have had the area x-rayed, to find nothing on the x-ray. Sometimes they can come back in a few days & it will show up. I have also seen that it has not even been a tooth ache causing the pain. Pains that feel like it is teeth can sometime come from sinus or ear infections. Try taking some Ibuprophen-tylenol to ease the discomfort & if the pain continues go back to the dentist & let him know what is going on. Good Luck!
Dr Sam is on the money, so I can't improve on his answer. What wasn't touched on, however, is that some infections (despite what other people have said) DO show up on the xray. With a long term infection (call a Chronic Apical Periodontitis), you will often see the abcess at the tip of the root; it's a dark bubble, 2-5mm in diameter.
WHETHER OR NOT AN INFECTION SHOWS UP ON AN X-RAY DEPENDS MORE ON HOW LONG IT'S BEEN THERE.
IN ACUTE INFECTIONS VS. CHRONIC INFECTIONS THERE WOULD BE DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE.
FOR A CHRONIC INFECTION THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR SOME TIME, THE BONE DENSITY WILL SHOW A SHADOW THAT CAN BE EASILY SEEN ON AN X-RAY. THE FORMER CASE MAY NOT SHOW ANY DIFFERENCE AT ALL. IN THIS CASE THE SYMPTOMS GIVE MORE EVIDENCE FOR THE NEED OF TREATMENT.
BOTH DR. SAM AND DR. SWANSON ARE CORRECT!
If a tooth is infected, the tooth nerve will gradually die. Our bodies can't tolerate dead tissue, so it will wall off the infected area. This is an abscess. It takes time for the abscessed area to effect the bone around the tooth so it will show on an xray. The tooth could be dead and thus infected and still not show on an xray. The dentist will go by symptoms. The gums could be infected and that would also not show on an xray. The dentist would use symptoms to differentiate.
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