How often does your dentist do x-rays? (insurance, law)

[ACWhite]

I realize that this practice has to be tailored to the individual to some extent, but I'd just like to know what others' experiences have been. I don't like getting these any more often than necessary to ensure good health.

I switched dentists a couple of years ago, from one in VA to one in DC, who was recommended by a friend. The new dentist, did a full set of x-rays on the first visit, which is understandable. But since that time he has wanted to do at least partial ones every six months, and his assistant is pretty pushy about it if I state that I'd prefer to wait. In fact, they said DC had a law that he had to require them at least annually--though I didn't find anything online attesting to that. Are they just adding up the yacht payments, or are they just trying to protect my dental health, or something else?

[goozer]

I go to a dentist on DC too and I have noticed they do x-rays more frequently than I remember in years past. That said, I think x-rays are used pretty frequently nowadays to find cavities and/or identify gum disease so it's part of the process. I do not remember being charged a whole lot for the x-rays though.

[Carlingtonian]

Dentist?

[ChristineVA]

Here's sort of a "loose" remembrance of what I have done:

Every 5 years I have a panoramic x-ray.

Every 18 months, I get a full set.

Somewhere in between that 18 months, I get a partial done.

There is one visit in there that I get no x-rays.

And round and round it goes....

[Snd485]

I've only had 2 visits to my dentist in the DC area so far and I only got x-rays once. So, I guess she does them once a year. I have my next 6 mo checkup in Sept so I'll see.

[ACWhite]

Thanks to everyone for your replies. Very helpful.

[ICS67]

Dental cleaning/check-up twice a year. Once a year a set of four 'bitewing' x-rays are taken. The full series of 24 or so x-rays once every seven or eight years.

[Pandoras]

I get full x-rays once a year and a partial at the half year mark. I get a panoramic about once every 2-3 years.

[Alley01]

My dentist does the full digital x-rays every six months before my cleaning. My insurance covers it 100% so I have never thought that it was too excessive. They may...but I just had my cleaning a couple months ago and they didn't dispute anything.

[Bass101]

I think dentists' push for x-rays is extremely excessive. I always refuse them and I see a dentist every 6 months. They don't seem to have an issue with it, and I've seen several different dentists in the past few years as I am new to the area. Growing up my parents never allowed me to have x-rays at the dentist because of concerns about radiation. I never had a single x-ray until I was 22 and had to get one to get my wisdom teeth out. I still have all my teeth and in fact have not had a cavity in almost 20 years.