How to Fax Dental Records | X-rays, Referrals, Claims | SecurelyFax
Dental practices still fax x-rays, periodontal charts, treatment notes, and claim attachments between offices and insurance carriers every day. You can send those documents online — phone, browser, or email — without a fax machine and keep a timestamped delivery confirmation for the patient file.
Why dental offices still rely on fax
Practice management systems and dental carriers don't always speak the same digital language. Fax is the lowest-common-denominator way to move a signed records release, a panoramic x-ray, or a pre-treatment estimate from one office to another's printer or document queue. The receiving side doesn't need any account with you — just their fax line.
Documents dental teams commonly fax
Examples include patient records releases (HIPAA authorization forms), bitewing and panoramic x-rays, periodontal charts, treatment plans, pre-determination requests, claim attachments with supporting radiographs, referral letters to specialists (endodontists, periodontists, oral surgeons), and prior-authorization documentation for major procedures.
Faxing x-rays: image quality matters
X-rays travel as a single PDF — the carrier or referring office needs to see contrast, not pixelation. Export at the highest resolution your imaging software supports, or print a high-quality copy and scan it as PDF rather than JPG. Confirm the panoramic or full-mouth series is on a single page when possible so reviewers don't have to reassemble it.
Fax a dental document online
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Get the document onto your deviceExport from your practice management or imaging system as PDF, or scan paper records cleanly.
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Confirm the receiving fax numberVerify the carrier's claims fax line or the referring office's number — wrong-number sends are the most common mishap.
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Send and capture the confirmationSend the fax and save the delivery confirmation in the patient's chart for the record.
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Note any follow-up windowInsurers often have a response timeline — set a reminder if you need to follow up on a pre-authorization.
SecurelyFax is a way to transmit documents and keep a confirmation — it is not dental, medical, or legal advice. Practices handling protected health information should verify their own obligations and confirm any required agreements are in place before relying on any service.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fax dental x-rays from my phone?
Yes. Export the imaging file or take a clean photo, then send through a web or mobile fax app.
Are dental records subject to HIPAA?
Yes. Dental practices are covered entities, and patient records are protected health information. HHS guidance allows faxing for treatment, payment, and health-care operations with reasonable safeguards.
Do insurance carriers accept faxed claim attachments?
Most still do — many carriers publish a dedicated claims-attachment fax line.
Will the receiving office see the same quality I sent?
Quality depends on the source file. Export imaging at the highest resolution and avoid re-scanning printouts of digital files.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-10