You’re preparing to take your child to their six-month checkup. When the hygienist escorts you both to the treatment room, they explain to you that your child will need dental X-rays during this visit. Immediately, you express a look of concern. If you suddenly find yourself transported back to your younger days of visiting the dentist and enduring the same process, you’ll be pleased to learn things are much different now. In this article, we’ll discuss the necessity of these images as well as why they’re much safer now for children of all ages.
Why Are Digital X-Rays Beneficial?
A child’s smile is continually growing. With new teeth erupting, the jaw developing, and facial structures shifting, dentists need a clear, complete view of what is going on above and below the gum line. Just examining the visible parts of a child’s mouth is not enough, as decay, disease, and problems with tooth development can occur in areas hidden from the naked eye.
This is why digital X-rays are beneficial to your child’s oral health. To identify areas of concern and apply the appropriate treatment, dentists must be able to examine teeth, gums, roots, and jawbone using high-resolution imaging systems.
This unique equipment and technology can readily identify bone loss, decay between teeth or underneath a filling, an abscess, or even changes to the jawbone because of an infection.
How Are They Safer These Days?
Unlike traditional radiography used decades ago, dental X-rays are now much more advanced. Before, dentists had to use harsh chemicals to develop the film and undergo long wait times for the images to be clear enough to see. Unfortunately, the low resolution made it difficult to provide accurate and precise treatment plans.
Nowadays, dentists are turning to digital X-rays to not only make the process quicker and easier but even more so, to better protect patients from harmful radiation. The systems used today often emit between 80 and 90% less radiation than traditional radiographs.
Also, instead of being confined to a dark room to develop the film, the scans are immediately transmitted to a nearby computer, allowing you and your child to view the images. Now, your child’s dentist can show you where a problem exists and how they plan to fix it.
While it’s natural to be concerned about various aspects of dentistry as it pertains to your child, you can have greater peace of mind knowing that your child’s pediatric dentist is incorporating the most advanced technologies to keep young smiles safe both inside and outside the office.
About the Author
Dr. Roy Paulson and the team at Casper Children’s Dental Clinic want all kids to maintain healthy smiles. Using the latest in dental technology, he incorporates digital X-rays as part of the list of available preventive services. Emitting much less radiation than traditional radiographs, he and his team can ensure the safety of a child during their appointment while getting a clearer view of what is going on in areas of the mouth that lie beneath the gum line. If you have questions about your child receiving dental X-rays, visit our website or call (307) 266-1997.