Why do we take x-rays?
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Decay starting between the primary molars that cannot be seen visually!
That’s an extra tooth inbetween the developing permanent incisors!
Smiles for Kids is very conservative with our use of x-rays, but they are a necessary tool that helps us fully assess all of our patient’s dental needs. We use them to detect cavities, gum disease, extra or missing teeth, cysts, or infections before they worsen. They are essential to proper oral health and maintenance. X-rays help US help YOU!
Depending on a child’s individualized caries risk status which takes into account their history of cavities, quality of tooth structure, diet and snacking habits, daily oral hygiene, we then set the frequency of X-rays specific for each child. That frequency ranges anywhere from 6, 12 or 18 months. So insurance doesn’t dictate when or how often we take X-rays and they’re not necessary for every visit for every child. It’s specific to your child’s needs!
Did you know that the amount of radiation from a dental X-ray is very small, and the risk from a single image is low? For example, the minimal amount of images we take for each child is less than the amount of radiation from background sources, like the sun, TVs, smartphones, and computers. In our office we use DIGITAL x-rays which are 80-90% less radiation compared to traditional dental X-ray machines.