Dental x-rays are important tools to help a dentist diagnose dental diseases or conditions such as decay, gum disease or missing teeth.
When does a child need an x-ray?
At a paediatric dental clinic, the following are the most common situations where x-rays are required:
For decay detection | Children with high risk of decay and teeth that touch together, making visualisation of hidden decay by eye impossible, will require x-rays at certain intervals to check for in-between decay.
Following dental trauma | Children who have sustained dental injuries may require x-rays to check for hidden fractures right after the injury, and at reviews to check for unfavourable changes in the nerve of the tooth.
To check on growth and development | X-rays may be indicated to check for missing or extra teeth, especially if eruption or exfoliation of teeth is not happening at the right time or in the right sequence. Children who are planned for braces treatment will also require x-rays for better visualisation of their bone/facial growth.
Are x-rays safe?
Sometimes, parents may be reluctant to put their child through dental xrays in view of the radiation exposure involved. Effects of radiation exposure do accumulate over time; for the young child who has their whole life ahead of them, it sure sounds scary to start exposing them so young! That’s exactly why paediatric dentists are very careful when indicating x-rays for our patients, and practise good protective processes to reduce amount of radiation exposure, such as:
- Using x-ray machines that can capture images fast
- Using the smallest sized x-ray that can still capture the zone of interest
- Limiting the number of x-rays to the minimum necessary
- Using protective aprons and thyroid shields to protect the rest of the child’s body
Current x-ray technology allows us to minimize the amount of radiation we expose our patients to. For example, the amount of radiation a child is exposed to for a regular small dental x-ray is 50 times less than what we would receive in 1 day from everyday background sources such as the Sun, and 200 times less than what we would receive taking a 5-hour plane ride.
In my opinion, there should always be a discussion before a decision is made whether to send a child for x-rays. Speak to us to assess your child’s needs, we’d love to involve you in this decision-making process.
Disclaimer: The views expressed here represent the opinions of the author and are do not reflect the views of opinions of My First Dentist. The contents of this website are meant purely for informational and educational purposes only. The website is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or professional care. If you have or suspect you have a health problem, you should consult a doctor or a qualified healthcare provider. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.