I am frequently asked about the necessity of Dental Xrays for children. I often tell parents who are concerned about the radiation that the exposure is less than they would recieve if they flew in an airplane. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry as well as the ADA have endorsed guidelines for prescribing radiographs in Children. First and foremost, the reasons for dental xrays is for the ability to detect dental decay. Taking bitewing xrays at the first dental visit is recommened if the proximal surfaces (sides) cannot be probed or seen. The frequency of Xrays depends on the child's risk for decay. I take Bitewing Xrays (cavity detecting) once a year, unless the child has recurrent decay, then I retake the Bitewings at the six month checkup. Most decay starts on the interproximal surfaces of the teeth and without detection and treatment these lesions can quickly grow in size effecting the pulp and creating the need for pulp therapy and more extensive restorations. Xrays are also needed to measure growth and development as well as rule out any abnormalities so that they can be treated early on. Detection of supernumary teeth or missing teeth early in life gives us the ability to develop a treatment plan and possibly avoid extensive or unnessary treatment later. For example, if we detect a permanent tooth is missing in a child early on, every effort is made to keep the primary tooth in place as long as possible, avoiding more expensive or complex treatment at a later date.
Approximately fifty percent of my patients develop decay between their primary teeth, so detecting decay early while it is small will be much easier and less expensive to treat overall.
