How Safe Are Dental X-Rays?

When X-rays are passed through your mouth, more X-rays are absorbed by the denser parts of your mouth, such as teeth and bone, than by soft tissues. The X-rays strike the film that is behind your tooth, and this creates an image on the film. Tooth decay, infections, gum disease and other signs of dental change in your mouth appear darker because of more X-ray penetration.

Dentists consider X-rays one of the most useful tools in helping patients maintain good oral health. X-rays help dentists diagnose relatively common disorders such as cavities, periodontal disease and infections, and some of the more uncommon problems, such as cysts, abscesses and tumors.

X-rays can also allow your dentist to determine whether a child’s permanent teeth are erupting properly and with correct spacing. In general, children need X-rays more often than adults because their mouths grow and change rapidly, and they are more susceptible to tooth decay than adults.

In today’s digital age, dentistry is making great advances in lowering the radiation dose administered during a dental X-ray. In the 1930s and 1940s, the cone used for x-rays covered most of the head and neck. Today, the cone is very small, so radiation is only pointed at the small spot where the X-ray film is located.

Many of the critical organs that might show radiation effects are not in the path of radiation, and the use of lead-lined body aprons protects your body from stray radiation. While your dentist takes this precaution to protect you, stray radiation is almost nonexistent with the modern dental X-ray machines. (By law all X-ray machines in the U.S. are checked for accuracy and safety at least every two years, in some states, more often.) Also, advancements in X-ray film mean that the film requires less radiation to develop the same quality picture.

An even newer advance is digital X-rays using sensors that feed the images to a computer. The digital X-ray system is more sensitive than dental X-ray film systems, so exposure to X-rays is cut by as much as 90 percent. Lakes Park Children's Dentistry & Orthodontics ONLY uses digital X-rays.

You are exposed to many sources of radiation every day, from the sun, minerals in the soil, your home appliances. Excess radiation can damage the body’s tissues and cells and can lead to the development of cancer, but fortunately, the radiation to which you are exposed while taking dental X-rays is extremely minute.

Without the ability to see inside a tooth and beneath the gums, more disease would go unchecked and more teeth would be lost because proper treatment wasn’t started in time. If dental problems are found and treated early, dental care is more comfortable and affordable. Dental x-rays are not without risk, but the risk is minuscule compared to the huge diagnostic benefit of keeping your natural teeth healthy and disease free.

What is the right age for my child’s first dental visit?

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), your child should visit the dentist by his/her 1^st birthday. You can make the first visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive. Your child should be informed of the visit and told that the dentist and their staff will explain all procedures and answer any questions. The less you say concerning the visit, the better. It is best if you refrain from using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear, such as needle, pull, drill or hurt. Pediatric dental offices make a practice of using words that convey the same message, but are pleasant and non-frightening to the child. 

Here at Lakes Park Children's Dentistry & Orthodontics, we strive to create a warm and kid-friendly environment. Age appropriate movies play in the lobby to entertain and relax your child before the start of the appointment. Each exam room has a TV on the ceiling with a wide selection of cartoons to distract from any anxiety your child may feel. At the end of the appointment, children receive a goody bag of dental supplies and a golden token for the treasure chest, where they can collect a prize! 

What Is A Pediatric Dentist?

The pediatric dentist has an extra two to three years of specialized training after dental school and is dedicated to the oral health of children from infancy through the teenage years. Infants, toddlers, young children, pre-teens and teenagers all require a different approach. The pediatric dentist specializes in needs such as dealing with different behavior types, guiding dental growth and development and helping kids avoid future dental problem. 

Oral Hygiene for Babies and Children

All children need to brush their teeth at least two times a day, at night before bedtime, and in the morning after breakfast. By disturbing and removing the plaque formation twice a day, parents can minimize or eliminate their children's potential for decay.

For younger children a parent should brush their teeth using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. As the child gets older and you see they have the dexterity and patience to properly take care of their teeth, you may give over the task. But do periodically monitor their care.

Toothpaste should be approved by the American Dental Association. Toothbrushes should be the proper size, smaller is better than bigger, and always use a soft nylon brush in a circular manner. This will prevent toothbrush abrasion, excessive wear of the enamel at the gum line.

Also a toothbrush should be replaced when it is worn, bristles splayed, or after more serious colds, infection, Strep throat, etc.

Infants - Gum pads and teeth should be wiped off with a gauze or washcloth. Check out Spiffies! Soothing wipes for infant and toddler oral hygiene! http://www.spiffies.com

Toddlers - Parents should brush their teeth twice a day with a very small amount of toothpaste. Toothpaste has quite a bit of fluoride in it. If the child is allowed to swallow it, this can cause white or brown spots to occur on the developing permanent teeth. Use toothpaste sparingly with young children.

3-6 years old - Let them brush, supervise them, and do the final brushing to make sure all surfaces of the teeth are cleaned. Also you need to floss their teeth as they get older as the posterior teeth get closer and tighter over time. Make sure they can rinse their mouth so toothpaste doesn't get swallowed.

6 years and older - Continue supervision until you are sure they can brush and floss properly.