Are Dental X-rays Safe for Children?

Posted on 1/23/2023 by Fariba Mutschler

A dentist can use X-rays to diagnose a wide range of dental issues, including cavities, fractured or impacted teeth, and jawbone abnormalities. Many parents express concerns regarding the health consequences of utilizing x-rays on young children.

Knowing the hazards and benefits of having your child's teeth x-rayed if the dentist feels necessary is essential.

X-ray Safety Concerns

X-rays can affect tissues, especially those growing rapidly, such as those in a child. X-rays can alter cells to lead to malignancy eventually.

When using x-rays, doctors and dentists must be cautious, especially for children. Doctors are advised to assess the patient and check their medical history and their previous use of x-rays.

How To Prevent Health Risks to Children

ALARA stands for "as low as reasonably achievable" when a dentist determines that x-rays are necessary for a child's dental health. Thanks to modern high-speed film and digital technology, dentistry can now capture x-rays with shallow doses of ionizing radiation.

Single-beam X-ray machines are safer since they use a single radiation beam instead of scattered rays. When taking dental x-rays, the x-ray beam is focused on a specific area of interest.

Short exposure intervals for X-rays also help keep radiation exposure to a minimum. A shield is placed over sections that will not be exposed to x-ray radiation.

Make a Dentist Appointment For Your Child

Make an appointment with CT Pediatric Dentist if your child has a toothache or if you have any other concerns. We will talk over your options and see what works best for you. If x-rays are essential, we will use the smallest amount of radiation possible and take other procedures to ensure your kid's safety. Make an appointment as soon as possible.

My daughter was a little nervous to have her dental work done but everyone in the office was super friendly and very reassuring and that helped her nervousness go away. Thanks for the excellent dental experience. ~ Lilyana G.

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(971) 470-0054

Email
portland@greatgrins.net

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Our Dental Blog | Great Grins Pediatric Dentistry - Portland, OR
Dr. Fariba Mutschler & Dr. Mark Mutschler have created this informative blog to help educate the community. If you like an article or the dental blog in general please use the share it button to post to Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.
Great Grins for KIDS Portland, 13908 SE Stark Street, Ste C, Portland, OR 97233-2161 ~ (971) 470-0054 ~ portlandchildrensdentist.com ~ 3/22/2023 ~ Page Keywords: pediatric dentist Portland ~