Yes, the American Dental Association (ADA) says that dental X-rays are safe for pediatric patients and adult patients alike. While X-rays do pose a very small risk to patients, regardless of their age, they can be valuable diagnostic tools in dentistry. Depending on your child's needs, Dr. Casey might recommend your child has an X-ray done to diagnose certain dental issues. As a parent herself, Dr. Casey knows that making medical choices for children can be stressful for their guardians.
Our staff is dedicated to assisting our patients' parents in figuring out the best options for their child's oral and overall health. We believe that knowledge is vital to making the right dental decision for your child. This is why we have put together this guide to help parents better understand tell the X-ray procedure that Medical Center Children's Dentistry and vital pediatric dental X-ray guidelines. We believe this will help parents make the most informed decision possible about their child's oral health.
When Are X-Rays Recommended?
There are areas of everyone's mouth that dentists can't see during routine visits, this is even more true for children due to the small size of their mouths. X-rays also allow your child's pediatric dentist to get a glimpse under their gums and even inside their teeth. Pediatric dentists typically will not recommend the use of X-rays unless they have already completed a full pediatric dental examination and still have unanswered questions or concerns about your child's teeth.
While we do our best to limit the number of X-rays our pediatric patients receive, there are some situations when we might recommend it. Here are some of the situations where we find X-rays to be beneficial:
- When we figure out if there is adequate room in your child's mouth for all of their incoming teeth.
- When determining if your child is losing primary (baby) teeth quick enough to make room for their permanent teeth.
- When checking for preliminary development of wisdom teeth or any other teeth having difficulty emerging through their gums. This complex dental issue is known medically as an "impacted tooth."
- When we need a more thorough check for the early signs and symptoms of tooth decay, also known as Periodontal Disease.
- When we are looking for any developmental abnormalities like oral cysts or tumors.
Not every appointment involves dental X-rays! The choice to recommended X-rays is always based on each patient's individual oral and overall health needs. If you have any questions about our X-ray procedures, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Are All X-Rays The Same?
With X-rays being so beneficial to preventative dental healthcare, technology has naturally evolved so dentists can take different types of X-rays based on what the X-ray is for. Pediatric dentistry currently utilizes several types of X-rays, with each one serving its own unique purpose. Depending on what dentists are trying to find out, they might order any of these types of X-rays:
Bitewing: A bitewing X-ray allows Dr. Casey to study the crowns of both the upper and lower teeth in a single area within your child's mouth. While it only snaps an X-ray of a small area on the mouth, it is incredibly useful in identifying cavities or tooth decay between teeth. They are used to monitor the physical status of any fillings your child has already, as they allow Dr. Casey to identify any significant wear or breakdown.
Periapical: The periapical X-ray is focused on just one or two teeth. These X-rays show the entirety of this tooth, capturing a visual from its crown to its root. These are often used to assess potential damage to a particular tooth, as well as to identify developmental issues. This is especially vital with any dental issues that physically manifest in the roots.
Occlusal: Occlusal X-rays are typically used by pediatric dentists to track the placement and development of the entire arch of your child's teeth in either the top or bottom jaw. These X-rays are most commonly used to see how the teeth fit together when your child bites down.
Panoramic: A panoramic X-ray shows your child's entire mouth in one single X-ray. It includes all of their teeth in both the upper and lower jaws. The benefit of panoramic X-rays is that they can be used to see emerging teeth, impacted teeth, or tumors. All of which a pediatric dentist cannot see even in a full pediatric dental exam.
Cephalometric: A cephalometric X-ray shows a comprehensive view of your child's teeth, jaw, and head by taking an image of the entire side of your child's head. It is most often used by orthodontists as they begin planning orthodontic treatments.
These are several of the X-ray methods that are most common, especially in pediatric dentistry. They each have a different purpose, as they all produce X-rays that have unique focuses. When it comes to choosing the right kind of X-ray for a child's specific needs, Dr. Casey has over 25 years of experience in treating the dental needs of countless San Antonio pediatric patients. She is incredibly knowledgable about X-rays and the technology behind them, so that if you have any questions at all she would love to answer them. We believe more knowledgable our patients' parents are, the better equipped they are to make the best oral health decisions for their child.
Are X-Rays Safe For My Child?
One of the most common questions we get from the guardians of our pediatric patients is "are X-rays safe for my child?" According to the American Dental Association (ADA), dental X-rays are safe for dental patients of all ages, including children. While X-rays will expose your child to low radiation levels, the possibility of experiencing any harmful effects is incredibly low.
To ensure the best safety standards for our pediatric patients, Medical Center Children's Dentistry follows the most up-to-date pediatric X-ray guidelines set forth by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These current X-ray guidelines recommend that "medical X-ray imaging exams be optimized to use the lowest radiation dose needed." This is one of the reasons why we use state-of-the-art equipment when we do need to utilize dental X-rays.
We also utilize the extra protection of leaded aprons and leaded thyroid collars when needed. These added safety measures shield your child's abdomen and thyroid from residual radiation from the X-rays. We only recommend utilizing X-rays with our pediatric patients when we feel that need X-rays to properly diagnose, prevent, or treat a dental issue.
We have found that children who are at low risk of tooth decay don't require the use of X-rays as often. This is one. of the many reasons that good oral hygiene is so critical. Encourage your child to brush twice a day with toothpaste that fights cavities. As a parent, it's natural to have safety concerns about the use of X-rays. We are dedicated to help you figure out the best option for your child's preventive oral health treatments. If you have any questions or concerns about X-rays or the guidelines that Medical Center Children's Dentistry follows, please feel free to reach out to our office!
1 Response