Paediatric dental x-rays (radiographs) are recommended after a clinical examination has deemed them necessary. Dental radiographs are a very important diagnostic tool for the dentist. The dentist uses radiographs for many reasons such as detecting dental decay, detecting bone diseases, and helping to assess developmental tooth defects and anomalies.
Radiographs are also used in evaluating dental problems due to an injury to the mouth or dental trauma, assessing erupting and developing teeth, evaluating jaw growth and development, and assessing orthodontic concerns. It is best to detect dental decay early, as conservative treatment options may be effective at this stage. Delaying radiographs could lead to more significant dental decay, pain, infections, and consequently the need for more invasive treatment alternatives.
We follow the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle, which means the fewest number of radiographs are taken and the patient is exposed to the least amount of radiation. In our office we use digital radiography, which uses less radiation than conventional radiographs. The radiation from taking radiographs is negligible relative to the total exposure of radiation from all daily sources of radiation including environmental and manufactured sources.