Why Are Dental X-Rays So Important?

If you’re bringing your child into Marshfield Pediatric Dentistry to see Dr. Julie Hantson, you may be wondering if they may need dental x-rays. While there are some exceptions, we recommend that most new patients have x-rays taken when they first come to our practice.

Dental X-Rays: A Valuable Diagnostic Tool for New Patients

At Marshfield Pediatric Dentistry, we do not always recommend x-rays for all children. However, if you are a new patient, an x-ray is a powerful tool that allows Dr. Julie Hantson to develop a better understanding of your child’s mouth and oral development.

X-rays reveal the health of your child’s primary (baby) teeth and permanent (adult) teeth. By taking x-rays when your child first visits, the team at Marshfield Pediatric Dentistry can develop a more comprehensive understanding of their oral health, allowing Dr. Hantson to identify any potential problems with your child’s oral development.

X-Rays Allow for Early Detection

X-rays provide Dr. Hantson with insights into your child’s overall oral development as well as helping to identify areas of concern, such as tooth decay or gum disease that cannot be diagnosed with a visual inspection alone. An oral exam only allows Dr. Hantson to check the outside of the gums and teeth for signs of gum disease and cavities. With an x-ray, however, she can see the roots of your child’s teeth and the structure of their gums, alerting her to any potential issues with your little one’s smile before they become major problems. With early detection, Dr. Hanston can take the proper steps to resolve the issue, saving you time, money, and unnecessary discomfort for your child.

Dental X-Rays are Safe and Administered Infrequently

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has shown that regular pediatric x-rays are not harmful to kids. Today, x-rays offer better, more accurate images than ever, with extremely low doses of radiation. We use sophisticated equipment and minimize your child’s exposure to radiation with special aprons and protective gear. In the past, some pediatric dentists took x-rays as frequently as every six months, or every year. Now, though, this has become a much less common practice. Taking x-rays this frequently is usually not necessary, and simply leads to higher expenses for dentists and patients alike.

After your child has an initial x-ray from Dr. Julie Hantson at Marshfield Pediatric Dentistry, we typically will not recommend further x-rays unless Dr. Hantson identifies a potential oral health or development issue that may require x-ray imaging to diagnose.

Learn More About X-Rays From Marshfield Pediatric Dentistry!

If you have more questions about x-rays or your child is overdue for their next pediatric appointment, please contact the team at Marshfield Pediatric Dentistry today! Give us a call at (781) 205-1124 to get started, or visit our office in person at 3 Proprietors Drive, Marshfield, MA 02050.

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