How Often Should Kids Get Dental X-Rays?

There are many different tools that pediatric dentists use to provide the highest level of oral health care to their young patients. One of the most important is the use of diagnostic imaging, otherwise referred to as dental X-rays. 

Are dental x-rays safe? How often should kids get them? And at what age should they get their first? We have all the answers to these questions and more below. 

Are Dental X-Rays Safe? 

Thanks to modern advancements in dentistry, today’s dental X-rays are safer than they have ever been. A very, very small amount of radiation is used to capture the image. 

The benefits that come with the use of this diagnostic tool are far greater than the potential risk that comes from the minute amount of radiation used. 

How Often Should Kids Get Dental X-Rays? 

Generally, without any history of dental problems, a preventative set of dental X-rays should be taken every 12 months or even longer. 

When it comes to how often a pediatric patient should get dental X-rays or how old that patient should be when they get their first one, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry does not have any specific regulations. They can benefit patients of any age. 

Determining when to administer dental X-rays is left in the hands of the experienced pediatric dentist based on a few recommendations. For instance, the AAPD suggests that dental X-rays be taken when patients have:

• Dental trauma, including sports injuries
• Cavities
• Sensitivity
• Unusual bleeding
• Swelling
• Signs of periodontal disease
• Enamel erosion
• Loose permanent tooth or tooth loss

Dental X-rays are recommended every 6 to 12 months if the above situations are present. Though rest assured that your child’s pediatric dentist will make the most conservative determination with their oral health as the priority.  

The Role of Dental X-Rays in Pediatric Dentistry

Dental X-rays play a very important role in the diagnosis and treatment of oral health issues in dentistry — including pediatrics. 

With the naked eye, there is only so much that dentists can see. This limits their ability to treat oral health issues that go beyond normal vision. And when it comes to pediatric dentistry, that includes both dental concerns as well as developmental concerns. 

Dental X-rays in pediatric dentistry help dentists to: 

• Find decay or infection within a cavity or crack
• Monitor the development and eruption of permanent teeth
• Gain a better perspective of dental injuries or trauma to move forward with the proper treatment

Dental X-rays are also widely used in orthodontic treatment, including early orthodontics.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dental X-Rays

How does a dentist do an X-ray on a child?

A lead vest will be placed over the child to reduce radiation exposure. Then each section of the mouth is singled out for imaging, providing the dentist with a thorough look at all areas of the mouth with minimal risk. 

Does dental insurance cover X-rays?

Because dental imaging is used as a diagnostic tool in the prevention and treatment of one’s oral health, most insurance providers will cover at least one set of X-rays every 12 months. 

Learn More at Pediatric Dental Care of Memphis

At Pediatric Dental Care of Memphis, we want to be able to provide your child with the best possible dental treatment imaginable. That’s why we work so closely with the parents, listening and encouraging along the way. If you have questions about your child’s oral health or the dental care they receive, just ask. It’s what we’re here for. 

Contact us today to schedule an appointment at one of our two convenient locations: 

Kirby Center Cove: 901-363-8192

White Station: 901-560-4386

Or, request an appointment online.