Pediatric Dental Digital X-rays
Helping us take a better look
Benefits of digital x-rays for children
During an exam, the dentist performs a visual inspection of the teeth, gums, and tongue. However, not all issues can be detected by a visual examination alone. That’s where digital x-rays come into play.
Digital x-rays help us keep your child’s mouth and teeth healthy as they grow. X-rays can help us see and diagnose:
- Cavities. Most cavities can be found during an oral exam, but some may only show on an x-ray.
- Erupting teeth. Permanent teeth usually begin erupting around the age of six for most children. X-rays help us to monitor this eruption.
- Injury. If your child has an accident or injury that impacts their mouth, we will use x-rays to evaluate the impact of an injury or assist with orthodontic treatment.
Types of Digital Dental X-rays
Our pediatric dentists tap into different kinds of x-rays during your child’s appointment. Depending on the issue being evaluated, our pediatric dentists may request one or more of the following types of digital x-rays:
- Bitewing x-rays – Imaging of the upper and lower teeth in one area of the mouth
- – Purpose: To find unseen cavities
- Periapical x-rays – Imaging of only one or two teeth
- – Purpose: Diagnosis of cavities and jaw or root issues
- Panoramic x-rays – Imaging of the child’s entire mouth
- – Purpose: Assess the development of your child’s smile, including emerging or impacted teeth
- Occlusal x-rays – Imaging providing a full view of the top or bottom jaw
- – Purpose: Assess how your child’s teeth fit together
- Orthodontic x-rays – Imaging that shows the entire side of your child’s head
- – Purpose: Assess any orthodontic needs
How Often Does My Child Need X-rays?
We typically recommend having digital x-rays done once per year as a preventative measure. If your child suffers an injury or is showing signs of another issue, we may also recommend the use of x-rays to properly diagnose and treat them.
