I am too old for dental x-rays
I stopped going to one dentist. Had been going to that practice for 40 years. Got tired of being hurt with those nasty cardboard style x-ray holder things. Too bad. The woman who cleaned my teeth was great.
Just went to another dentist. They use something in your mouth that is a small computer but too big for my mouth.
My mouth joints are not working as well as they used to work, my mouth tissue is more sensitive (or thinner?). I ended up in tears.
I am 76 and I have decided to never have x-rays again. Well, that is the decision today. Sometimes it doesn't pay to be obedient. I will still get my teeth cleaned but no more x-rays.
I challenged the dentist to lobby the x-ray equipment manufacturers re old folks. He gave me the explanation the manufacturers give him!
Anyone want to start a protest with me??!!
= new reply since forum marked as read
one by one, we start a movement!
I hate those x-ray things too. it seems most medical practices have improved over the years when it comes to patients' comfort. dentistry doesn't seem to change much. and it's so expensive!! we pay for that pain. I don't like drills or that vaccuum thing or any of it. tears have often come to my eyes and it's sometimes just the uncomfortable feeling of the entire thing. I always ask for the gas to make it more bearable. oh, and can we talk about needles going into your gums?
The dentist was giving me the talk on why what he did in his practice was the best he could do. I said, 'I am talking about me. Please lobby the manufacturers for your old/senior patients. This does not work for me and I will never do this again -- period.'
I am finally realizing how hard we have to work to advocate for ourselves at this age.
Hang in there, WinkyDink, and advocate!
Thanks for posting--I almost posted about that.
Because of major jaw and teeth injuries decades ago I had lots of major and minor surgeries and more x-rays than I can count, including tons of the panoramic ones. At one time I had to carry a panoramic x-ray with me when I flew because airport scanners would alert on metal in my jaw.
We called them Panorexes, after the name of the manufacturer, iirc.
The ideal solution would be for the dentist to use a smaller digital x-ray device or find a way to do those sharp film ones, even if it takes a topical anesthetic or a mouth rinse described above. Failing that (or finding a better dentist), a Panorex might be discussed with the dentist to see if it might at least provide some useful information. I don't think it's ideal for imaging individual teeth, but it might be better than no examination at all. Whether it would be deemed necessary and covered under insurance would be a separate question.
After all my dental/oral surgery travails, I later worked in a precision parts machine shop for a couple of years making all kinds of parts from a variety of materials. The one part I made the most units of was something that was formed in a big screw machine from brass stock, then de-chipped and deburred and finished. The last machine operation was bending the part before it was inspected and sent off to be chromed and then sold to dentists.
The part was the tip on the thing your dentist uses to spray air and rinsewater in your mouth. 
Smile. Interesting about the tip thing. That is a lot of work for the end of a hose -- essentially. I will keep calling around and see if I can find other choices. We can send a toilet to the international space station and correct the lens on the Hubble in space -- gotta be able to check teeth without hurting people.
Half heartedly I asked the Dentist if he could e-mail me the image, he said yes and it now my desk top on my computer. Weird but unique. 
The cardboard cuts into my gums-- I may follow your lead!!
