How Safe Are Dental X-Rays for Kids?

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Dental x-rays are an important part of routine dental care for kids of all ages.  However, many parents express concern over the safety of x-ray radiation and whether or not dental imaging is truly beneficial for their child's oral health and development.

We want to make sure that all parents that bring their children to Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove are comfortable and educated on the safety and importance dental x-rays have for the health and development of tiny teeth.

What Are Dental X-Rays?
Dental x-rays allow us to get a better look at the growth of your child's teeth, as well as identify tooth decay, dental diseases and infections.  By capturing an x-ray image of your child's smile, we gain insight into their dental health and development that allows us to catch problems early on.  This early detection is essential to preventing serious health issues and provides a visual record of tooth growth overtime.

Are Dental X-Rays Safe for Kids?
When discussing the safety of dental x-rays, it's important to first have a better understanding of what radiation is and where it comes from.

Radiation is the emission of energy as an electromagnetic wave.  While it is common knowledge that radiation is emitted when taking x-rays, many people don't realize that we are also exposed to natural background radiation in the environment around us every day.  This background radiation comes from space (cosmic rays), rocks, soil, and even living things.

Fortunately, the effects of background radiation have been heavily studied.  When comparing cancer rates in high- and low- background radiation regions, studies have NOT shown any correlation between background radiation and an increase in cancer incidence.

The amount of radiation that is produced from bite wing x-rays that we use in dental offices is actually significantly lower than the amount of background radiation exposure that we receive regularly.  To put this in perspective, the amount of background radiation that we come into contact with each year is equivalent to approximately 620 bitewing x-rays!

Read more about the safety and benefits of dental x-rays in this article published by the American Dental Association.  You can also contact our office with any questions you have about dental x-rays, including their safety, how often your kids should have them taken, and why they are an important part of routine dental care.

Call 516-222-5100 to contact our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to contact our Glen Cove office.  Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our YouTube channel!