Your Questions

• What is a pediatric dentist?
• When should my child see a dentist for the first time?
• What will happen at my child’s first dental visit?
• Why should decayed baby teeth be fixed?
• Why does my child need X-rays?
• How should I care for my child’s teeth?
• Does my child’s diet affect their teeth?
• What are sealants?
• What is Baby Bottle Decay?
• When will my baby start getting teeth?
• My child has a dental emergency. What should I do?
• How safe is fluoride?

Why does my child need X-rays?

Radiographs (X-rays) are an extremely vital and necessary part of your child’s dental diagnostic process. Without them, certain dental conditions can and will be missed.

Radiographs detect much more than cavities. For example, they may be needed to survey erupting teeth, diagnose bone diseases, evaluate the results of an injury, or plan orthodontic treatment. X-rays allow dentists to diagnose and treat health conditions that cannot be detected during a clinical examination. If dental problems are found and treated early, dental care is more comfortable and more affordable.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends radiographic examinations every six months for children with a high risk of dental decay. Most pediatric dentists request bitewing radiographs once a year. Additionally, a panoramic or a full mouth set is recommended every three to five years.

Pediatric dentists are very careful to minimize the exposure of their patients to radiation. With contemporary safeguards, the amount of radiation received in a dental X-ray exam is extremely small. The risk is negligible. In fact, dental radiographs represent a far smaller risk than an undetected and untreated dental problem. Lead body aprons and shields will protect your child. Today’s equipment filters out unnecessary X-rays and restricts the X-ray beam to the area of interest. High-speed film also assures that your child receives a minimal amount of radiation exposure.