How can X-rays be taken painlessly with a large mandibular tori?

Question

Hi doctor,

I have relatively large mandibular tori, which are nearly touching. They have always been rather sensitive, when I am eating chips, a sharp piece pokes them. I just went to the dentist and got those new digital bitewing X-rays, which hurt my tori as there is less room in my mouth. I have a large dark red bruise along my lingual frenulum and redness or soreness on both tori. Neither the X-ray technician nor the dentist seemed to care that I was in pain. I was told that Tori is regular and that they did that kind of X-ray for all patients. So, my question for you is this what I am supposed to deal with for the rest of my life when I go to the dentist? Are there dentists who spare their tori patients from having to go through this? I am perfectly happy to get the old-fashioned type of X-rays.

Please help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Sorry to hear that, but you can avoid X-rays if it hurts you badly. Maybe because they wanted to see the tori in X-ray, so they would have placed film pressed to the area. I can assure you it is never this painful, so hopefully, next time just tell them in advance about your experience so that the other dentist will be more careful. I cannot comment on their technique as I have not seen it, but I believe you can ask them not to use digital as its sensors are quite thick and rigid thus causing discomfort. They should have the old plastic film, which would be much more comfortable.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.