Starting at an early age, your child’s pediatric dentist will begin capturing dental X-rays during their routine checkups and cleanings. In the past, film X-rays have received criticism about radiation and other harmful effects, but today, with the latest digital imaging technology, you won’t have to worry about these same problems. Read on to learn why your child’s dentist takes X-rays and what makes it safer today.
Are Dental X-Rays Safe For Children?
In the past, and even still today, some dentists used film X-rays to capture images of the mouth. These used harmful chemicals that were bad for the environment and produced enough radiation to make them dangerous. Fortunately, today, most dentists utilize digital imaging instead. Not only are they more convenient to process and share, but they’re also safer for your child, because they produce up to 90 percent less radiation than their old-school counterparts. Some other benefits that they offer include:
- The film is immediately processed, making your child’s dental appointment shorter.
- Crystal-clear imaging leads to more accurate diagnoses.
- Produces larger photos that make it easier to see hidden cavities.
- Digital grey scale offers 256 shades of gray versus 16-25 for film.
- Can be integrated with other dental technology, such as intraoral cameras.
- Your child will be more comfortable, because they won’t have to bite down on paper tabs and wait for the image to be taken.
Why Does Your Child Need Routine X-Rays?
Just like how routine X-rays are a part of your checkups and cleanings, they’re also an important part of your child’s. In fact, you may notice that they receive them more frequently than you do. That’s because their mouths are still growing, and their dentist wants to make sure that if any problems are developing, they’re taken care of before they permanently impact the health or appearance of your child’s smile.
When your child’s pediatric dentist examines their X-rays, the images will allow them to look for some of the following common problems:
- Cavities hidden between the teeth
- Check for issues that run in the family
- Examine previous endodontic treatment results
- Evaluate their jaw health
- Determine how many teeth are in the mouth
- Make sure that no teeth are impacted below their gums
How Often Should Children’s Teeth Be X-Rayed?
The frequency at which your child receives X-rays depends on whether they commonly get cavities or have a history of other oral issues. If they are at a higher risk of oral health problems, they’ll likely have X-rays taken between once or twice a year. This allows their dentist to make sure that nothing goes left untreated and progresses to cause them pain or make them prematurely lose a tooth.
Children’s X-rays are a crucial part of their routine checkups and cleanings. Without getting them, your child could be at a higher risk of developing more serious issues down the road, like tooth infections. With routine dental imaging, you’ll be able to have the peace-of-mind that an oral health problem won’t cause your little one to need an unexpected visit with their emergency dentist!
About the Author
Dr. Susan Podray-Donovan is a board-certified orthodontist who is passionate about providing young patients with the building blocks for healthy smiles as adults. She utilizes the latest dental technology and techniques to make each of her patients’ visits more comfortable, convenient, and faster, including digital X-ray imaging and intraoral cameras. For questions or to schedule a checkup and cleaning for your child, visit Village Pediatric Dentistry’s website or call 678-456-5572.