Dental x-rays, also known as radiographs, capture images of the teeth and bones, to better help diagnose oral wellness. But they can seem foreign and a little scary to children when they don’t know what to expect. Fortunately, dental x-rays–and especially digital x-rays–are extremely safe, AND they have important benefits.
The Image Gently Campaign
The American Dental Association (ADA) has the support of more than 80 other health care organizations for their Image Gently initiative. As a result, dental offices across our nation adhere to the following guidelines to “child size” x-ray examination of children:
Parents can rest assured that the amount of radiation exposure your child will receive through a digital x-ray in our office is nothing to concern yourself about.
Dental x-rays are one of the smallest radiation-dose studies done in modern medicine. A routine exam with four Bite-Wings sends about 0.005 mSv, close to the amount of radiation a person would be exposed to during a plane flight of one to two hours.
Actually, the greater danger is foregoing x-rays and missing tooth decay festering under the gumline or inside a tooth that can’t be seen without an x-ray.
Dentists diagnose diseases of the teeth and surrounding tissues with dental x-rays. The fact remains, deep decay can’t be seen with a simple oral examination. Likewise, dental x-rays allow your dentist to find dental issues early on so they can be treated while they are small problems. This saves our families money, but above all, it keeps little mouths healthy and free from pain and disease.
Whether or not you have dental x-rays taken at your appointment depends largely on your age and your symptoms. Dental x-rays are taken when needed. In other words, if you your symptoms or dental history indicate that it is time to get a look under the surface of your gumline, dental x-rays will be prescribed. If not, typically, x-rays are taken about every six months.
If you are a new Li’l Sunshine Smiles patient, Dr. Cat may take x-rays as part of the initial exam to establish a baseline record. She can use this baseline record to compare changes that may occur over time.
Digital x-rays enter the scene in the 1980s. The great thing about them, they don’t require the use of chemicals to process the images. In addition, they reduce waste since the sensors involved can be reused. Digital dental x-rays are environmentally-friendly.
Unlike their traditional counterparts of yesteryear, digital images can be viewed instantly. Patients and dental staff don’t have to waste time waiting for film to develop.
Furthermore, digital technology captures sharper pictures with enhancement features for better accuracy with diagnosis.
Most importantly, the digital sensors require less radiation than dental film to create an image. That is to say, patients experience less radiation exposure when they have digital x-rays.
X-rays not only uncover decay, but also other oral issues that need to be addressed. An x-ray can show Dr. Cat if there is enough room for incoming permanent teeth. Also, they reveal if there are wisdom teeth present. Furthermore, they can show if there are developmental abnormalities, cysts or tumors, or bone loss–a sign of gum disease.
Learn more about your dental x-rays and how our Li’l Sunshine Smile team can use them to improve your oral wellness. Schedule a consultation today by calling us at: 813-576-0200,