What are "bitewing" x-rays and why do we take them?

These are “bitewing” x-rays. We call them “cavity detecting x-rays”. They are used to detect interproximal (between the teeth) cavities if back teeth are touching. This is the most common area for children to have cavities! Dental x-rays are an important diagnostic tool in the treatment of children and can provide a broad range of information that cannot be gathered in visual exams. We often see children with no visual evidence of cavities, who surprise us on x-rays with significant cavities between the teeth. If the cavity is caught on the x-ray early, we can double our preventative methods or restore the tooth with a small filling. However, if we do not take an x-ray in early stages of cavity development, we can visually discover it only once it is large and needs “baby root canal” and crown or even an extraction.

At Smiles For Kids, we respect the radiation emitted by the x-rays, but it is our role as dental professionals to educate families on why, how, and when we utilize this important diagnostic tool. The interval of taking dental x-rays depends on then individual child’s risk for cavities or pathology. How do we determine risk? We look at bacteria levels by amount of plaque or tartar buildup on the teeth, texture of enamel, presence of visible cavities, and more. We also look at parent and sibling history of cavities, nighttime feeding practices (such as going to bed with food or drink or nighttime nursing), amount and frequency of acid and sugar exposure, daily oral hygiene practices, spacing between the teeth, age of the child, and more.