Low-dose digital X-rays let us see what an examination alone can't — decay between teeth, bone loss, infection and wisdom teeth — taken only when clinically needed, with quick, clear results you can view on screen.
Dental X-rays (radiographs) are low-dose images that reveal what a visual exam can't see — decay hidden between teeth, the level of bone supporting your teeth, infection at the root, and the position of unerupted or impacted wisdom teeth. Modern digital X-rays use a very low dose of radiation and are taken only when there's a clear clinical reason, as part of a comprehensive examination — never routinely for their own sake. At Whitehorse Dental, 129A Canterbury Road, Blackburn, we use them as a diagnostic tool that fits our prevention-first approach: catching small problems early, while they're still simple to treat. Images appear on screen almost instantly, so we can view them with you and explain exactly what we're seeing. Consultations are available in Mandarin, Cantonese, Teochew, Shanghainese and English, and Saturday appointments are available.
| Type | What it shows | Often used for |
|---|---|---|
| Bitewing | Crowns of the upper & lower back teeth together | Decay between teeth; bone levels |
| Periapical | One or two whole teeth, crown to root tip | A specific painful tooth; root & infection |
| OPG (panoramic) | The whole jaw — both arches, joints & sinuses | Wisdom teeth; planning complex treatment |
A visual examination tells us a great deal, but much of what affects your teeth happens where we can't see directly — between teeth, beneath existing fillings and crowns, and in the bone that holds your teeth in place. Dental X-rays give us that fuller picture, helping us detect decay, infection and bone changes early, often before they'd cause any symptoms. That's the heart of our prevention-first approach: the earlier a problem is found, the simpler and less invasive the treatment tends to be. X-rays are a tool for careful, thorough diagnosis — not something we take as a matter of routine.
There are a few different X-ray views, and which one we take depends entirely on what we need to see. The most common are:
Whichever view is appropriate, we'll explain why it's being taken before we proceed.
Depending on the view, an X-ray can help us identify:
Australian Dental Association (ADA) item numbers identify each procedure on your receipt and private health-fund claim. They're national identifiers — not fees — so they're the same wherever you're treated, and worth quoting when you check your cover with your fund. For dental X-rays, the codes you're most likely to see are:
| ADA item | Procedure |
|---|---|
| 022 | Intraoral radiograph — periapical or bitewing, per exposure (this one code covers both periapical and bitewing films; there is no separate bitewing-only code) |
| 037 | Panoramic radiograph (OPG), per exposure |
The figures below are general indicative ranges across Australian clinics (2025), provided as a guide only — they are not a quote and not a statement of Whitehorse Dental’s fees. Your exact cost is confirmed in a written treatment plan after your assessment.
| Type | Indicative range (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Intraoral X-ray — bitewing/periapical (per film) | $42 – $150 |
| Panoramic X-ray (OPG) | $60 – $150 |
Indicative Australian ranges (2025) shown as a general guide only, not a quote. If you hold private extras cover, we can help you check your rebate before you commit.
In practice, X-rays are often bundled into the cost of a comprehensive examination rather than charged separately — we'll confirm what applies to you in a written treatment plan. If you hold private extras cover, diagnostic imaging is frequently claimable, and we can help you check your rebate before anything proceeds.
It's natural to have questions about radiation, and we'd rather explain it clearly than gloss over it. A few plain facts:
We're always happy to talk any of this through before we proceed — and because consultations are available in Mandarin, Cantonese, Teochew, Shanghainese and English, you can have that conversation in the language you're most comfortable with.
X-rays work alongside a hands-on examination and, where relevant, a check-up and clean to give us a complete understanding of your oral health — for children monitoring teeth yet to come through, and for adults keeping an eye on fillings, bone levels and wisdom teeth. That thoroughness is how we catch small issues before they become big ones, and it's part of the same considered, prevention-first thinking we bring to every visit.
Whitehorse Dental is at 129A Canterbury Road, Blackburn VIC 3130 — about 16 kilometres east of Melbourne's CBD, close to Blackburn Lake Sanctuary and easily reached from across the eastern suburbs. Both Blackburn and Laburnum stations sit a short walk away on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines, and there's on-site parking. We care for patients across Blackburn, Blackburn North and Blackburn South, and neighbouring Box Hill, Nunawading and Forest Hill, with weekday and Saturday appointments available. If it's been a while, X-rays are usually taken as part of a wider assessment, so a check-up and clean is a natural place to start. Call us on (03) 8838 8820 or book online.
Modern digital dental X-rays use a very low dose of radiation — considerably lower than older film X-rays — and we only take them when there is a clear clinical reason to. During the exposure you wear a lead apron and, where appropriate, a thyroid collar, and the beam is directed only at the small area we need to see. As with any radiation, the sensible approach is to keep exposure to the minimum needed, which is exactly how we work: images are taken only when they'll genuinely inform your care, and we're always happy to talk through any concerns beforehand.
There's no single fixed schedule — it depends on your individual risk of decay and gum problems, your age, and your dental history. Someone with healthy teeth and a low risk of decay may need bitewing X-rays only every couple of years, while others benefit from closer monitoring. We base the decision on your circumstances rather than a routine timetable, and we always explain why an X-ray is being suggested before we take it.
Many dental problems — decay between teeth, changes in the bone that supports your teeth, infection at the root, or an impacted wisdom tooth — develop without any symptoms at first. X-rays let us find these issues early, when they're simpler and less costly to manage, rather than waiting until they cause pain or spread. A visual examination alone simply can't see between and beneath the teeth in the way an X-ray can.
As a general Australian guide, a single intraoral (bitewing or periapical) X-ray typically ranges from around $40 to $150 per film, and a panoramic OPG from around $60 to $150. These are indicative national ranges only — not a quote and not a statement of Whitehorse Dental's fees. X-rays are frequently bundled into the cost of a comprehensive examination rather than charged separately, so we confirm what applies to you in a written treatment plan. If you hold private extras cover, diagnostic imaging is often claimable, and we can help you check your rebate.
The two you're most likely to see are 022 (an intraoral radiograph — periapical or bitewing, charged per exposure) and 037 (a panoramic radiograph, or OPG, per exposure). Item 022 covers both periapical and bitewing intraoral films — there is no separate bitewing-only code. These are national Australian Dental Association identifiers that appear on your receipt and health-fund claim; they identify the procedure, not the fee, so they're the same wherever you're treated.
A bitewing shows the crowns of the upper and lower back teeth together and is the standard view for spotting decay between teeth and checking bone levels. A periapical shows one or two whole teeth from crown to root tip, which is useful for investigating a specific painful tooth, its root or any infection at the tip. An OPG (panoramic) is a single wide image of the whole jaw — both arches, the joints and the sinuses — and is often used to assess wisdom teeth or plan more complex treatment.
If you're pregnant or think you may be, let us know before any X-ray. Dental X-rays are very low dose and the beam is kept well away from the abdomen, but during pregnancy we handle imaging case by case — often deferring anything non-urgent until after the birth, and taking only what's genuinely necessary with appropriate shielding if a problem can't wait. We'll always discuss the timing with you first.
Yes. Consultations at Whitehorse Dental are available in Mandarin, Cantonese, Teochew, Shanghainese and English. One advantage of digital X-rays is that we can view the images with you on screen — and being able to talk through what they show, and what it means for your care, in your first language makes it much easier to understand any treatment we suggest and to ask questions.