As a parent, nothing is more important than keeping your son or daughter happy, healthy, and safe. So when your Bartlesville children’s dentist recommends that they take dental X-rays during their next checkup, you may wonder how safe and necessary this step is. Thankfully, you have nothing to fear! Modern dental X-rays are taken digitally, which makes them much safer than ever before! Here’s what you need to know about this important tool for monitoring your child’s oral development.
Why Do Children Need Dental X-Rays?
Even though your child’s baby teeth aren’t a permanent part of their smile, it’s important to ensure they’re healthy and coming in correctly. If they’re not taken care of, they can negatively influence your little one’s ability to chew, overall health, and oral development. Dental X-rays help your dentist keep your child’s smile healthy in a variety of ways, including:
- Monitoring development of teeth inside the gums.
- Predicting if there is enough space in the jaw for incoming teeth.
- Identifying cracks, cavities, and other hidden issues that can only be seen with X-rays.
- Checking for problems with the roots of the teeth or jawbone.
- Ensuring that permanent teeth are coming in correctly.
Are Dental X-Rays Safe for Kids?
X-rays have advanced by leaps and bounds over the years. Nowadays, dental X-rays are taken digitally to reduce radiation exposure by up to 90%, which makes them incredibly safe for children. In fact, some studies report that the amount of radiation given off by X-rays is roughly the same as the levels your child is exposed to from the environment on a daily basis. To absolutely maximize their safety, your dentist will drape a lead apron over the rest of your little one’s body to protect it from any radiation at all.
How Often Do Children Need to Have Dental X-Rays Taken?
Generally, dentists recommend that children begin to have dental X-rays taken as soon as their teeth are touching. From there, how regularly a child should get X-rays depends on their oral health. For instance, children who have a history of tooth decay or are at a higher risk of cavities may need X-rays every six months until their smile is healthier. On the other hand, children who are in good oral health and practice healthy habits may only need to have X-rays taken every 12-24 months.
Now that dental X-rays are taken digitally, they’re safer than ever for your son’s or daughter’s smile. This important piece of equipment plays a key role in keeping their smile healthy as it grows. If you still have questions about dental X-rays, your dentist would be happy to address your concerns during your child’s next dental checkup.
About the Author
At Dentistry by Design, Dr. Luke Lumpkin is dedicated to providing excellent dental care and positive experiences for smiles of all ages in Bartlesville. He has over a decade of experience and active memberships in several associations like the American Dental Association. As a father himself, he goes above and beyond to ensure his younger patients are safe, comfortable, and confident as their smile grows. If you’d like to learn more about dental X-rays, he can be contacted via his website or at (918) 336-6777.