Maintaining good oral health for children is integral to their overall well-being and should not be neglected. Poor dental health can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath, and even more serious health conditions like heart disease. Therefore, regular dental checkups are essential in ensuring good oral health.
At each regular dental checkup, your child’s dentist will conduct a comprehensive examination of their teeth and gums, looking for any signs of dental issues. Unfortunately, not all issues are visible with just a naked eye examination, which is where dental X-rays become invaluable – they enable dentists to see beneath the surface of teeth and gums to detect hidden issues that may exist.
All About Dental X-rays for Children
Let us discuss why dental X-rays are necessary, the types used most frequently by pediatric dentistry practices, and what parents can expect at an appointment for dental X-rays for their child.
Why Are Dental X-Rays Necessary?
Dental X-rays enable reliable pediatric dental care facilities to detect and diagnose dental issues that aren’t easily visible to the naked eye. Children’s teeth and jaws are constantly evolving, and by detecting potential issues early, pediatric dentists can develop a treatment plan and prevent more serious ones from appearing later on.
Dental X-rays are safe and produce minimal radiation exposure. For more information about radiation safety, speak to a pediatric dentist who can give more details regarding dental X-rays.
Types of X-Rays Commonly Used in Pediatric Dentistry
Pediatric dentists commonly utilize multiple forms of X-ray imaging technology. Here are a few of them:
- Bitewing X-rays: These X-rays display how the crowns of upper and lower back teeth touch, enabling your dentist to detect cavities or decay more effectively.
- Periapical X-Rays: Periapical X-rays provide a view of all parts of a tooth’s root system and surrounding bone structure and help detect abscesses, impacted teeth, or any other conditions requiring treatment. You can search for a reputable facility online and check out their website for their services and other information.
- Panoramic X-rays: These X-rays display the entire mouth, including all teeth, the jawbone, and the sinuses. They help detect issues related to tooth development, TMJ disorders, and other conditions affecting mouth and jaw health.
What to Expect During Your Child’s Dental X-Ray Appointment
Before your child’s X-ray appointment, ensure they have taken extra steps to brush and floss their teeth thoroughly. Furthermore, inform them about what the procedure entails as well as how an X-ray machine operates – here is what to expect during an appointment:
- Your child will be asked to sit or stand in front of a machine while being protected from radiation by wearing a lead apron over their chest and abdomen by their dentist or dental assistant.
- Dentists or dental assistants will then place a small sensor or film in their mouths so they can bite down on it to capture an X-ray image.
- Your child should remain still for several seconds while an X-ray is taken of them; however, their dentist or dental assistant may require multiple X-rays from different angles to obtain an accurate image of all their teeth and jawbone.
- Once the X-rays have been taken, your dentist will review and discuss them with you to address any concerns or suggest additional treatments like dental cleanings or X-rays based on your child’s oral health needs.
Conclusion
Dental X-rays are an essential and safe tool pediatric dentists use to diagnose and treat dental issues in children. By early detection, pediatric dentists can prevent more severe issues from emerging – saving you and your child costly treatments later. If you’re concerned about an appointment for your child’s X-ray, consult their pediatric dentist, who will provide additional details regarding its safety and necessity.
