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Home
First Visit
Meet the Staff
Contact Us
Baby Bottle Decay
Cavity Prevention
First Aid
Dental Info
Artwork
Kids Pages
Parents Info
First Visit
Meet the Staff
Contact Us
Baby Bottle Decay
Cavity Prevention
First Aid
Dental Info
Artwork
Kids Pages
Parents Info
Pediatric Dentists are the Pediatricians of Dentistry
(419) 893-0708
(419) 893-0708
Dental Info - Questions & Answers
Q. What exactly are x-rays?
A. X-rays are a type of radiation that can penetrate the human body, as well as many other materials. Radiographs (also commonly called x-rays) are the pictures made with x-rays. By illuminating bones and tissues on photographic film, x-rays allow doctors to detect health conditions not otherwise visible to the human eye.
Q. Why does my child need dental x-rays?
A. An x-ray examination helps a pediatric dentist diagnose diseases of the mouth, bone, face and jaw that may not show up during a visual examination. If dental problems are found and treated in early stages, dental care is more comfortable and affordable.
For example, developing permanent teeth can be observed before they grow throught the gums. A missing permanent tooth - or an extra tooth that may crowd other teeth out of position - can be discovered early. Tooth decay between the teeth may be seen on x-rays before it may be seen by the naked eye. By finding the cavity while it's still tiny, we can prevent serious damage to the tooth.
Q. How safe are dental x-rays?
A. Dental radiographs necessarily involve some x-ray exposure to the patient. Because children are especially sensitive to the potential adverse effects of radiation, we are particlarly careful to minimize their exposure.
With today's modern safeguards, the amount of radiation received in a dental examination is extremely small. Therefore, the risk of harmful effects from dental x-rays is negligible. In fact, the radiation from dental x-rays represents a far smaller risk than an undetected and untreated dental problem.
Q. Doesn't exposure to radiation cause cancer and birth defects?
A. Scientists have known for some time that exposure to large amounts of radiation is harmful. Extreme doses of radiation can make cancer more likely or alter the genetic material that determines the health of future generations.
The chances are extremely small that dental x-rays contribute to a risk of cancer, because the radiation exposure of a dental x-ray is infinitesimal. Even so, x-ray examinations should be made only when necessary.
Although it's difficult to compare different types of radiation, experts estimate that a full-mouth x-ray examination delivers about the same amount of exposure as four days in naturally-occurring environmental radiation. According to federal and state regulations, persons in occupations involving radiation exposure are permitted to receive annually more than 1,000 times the radiation in a dental x-ray.
Q. What are you doing to protect my child from x-ray exposure?
A. Technological advances have allowed pediatric dentists to significantly reduce patient exposure to radiation from dental x-rays. Modern equipment filters out unnecessary x-rays and restricts the x-ray beam to the area of interest. High-speed film also reduces a patient's exposure. In addition, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that we provide a lead apron for children.
Q. Could I have my child's x-rays sent to a new dentist?
A. Yes, we encourage it. Often the new dentist can refer to earlier x-rays to evaluate changes in your child's mouth. Although your former dentist is considered the owner of the x-rays, the radiographs can be duplicated and sent to your new dentist. You simply need to contact your former dentist and request it.
Approximate Eruption Times
Q. What exactly are x-rays?A. X-rays are a type of radiation that can penetrate the human body, as well as many other materials. Radiographs (also commonly called x-rays) are the pictures made with x-rays. By illuminating bones and tissues on photographic film, x-rays allow doctors to detect health conditions not otherwise visible to the human eye.
Q. Why does my child need dental x-rays?
A. An x-ray examination helps a pediatric dentist diagnose diseases of the mouth, bone, face and jaw that may not show up during a visual examination. If dental problems are found and treated in early stages, dental care is more comfortable and affordable.
For example, developing permanent teeth can be observed before they grow throught the gums. A missing permanent tooth - or an extra tooth that may crowd other teeth out of position - can be discovered early. Tooth decay between the teeth may be seen on x-rays before it may be seen by the naked eye. By finding the cavity while it's still tiny, we can prevent serious damage to the tooth.
Q. How safe are dental x-rays?
A. Dental radiographs necessarily involve some x-ray exposure to the patient. Because children are especially sensitive to the potential adverse effects of radiation, we are particlarly careful to minimize their exposure.
With today's modern safeguards, the amount of radiation received in a dental examination is extremely small. Therefore, the risk of harmful effects from dental x-rays is negligible. In fact, the radiation from dental x-rays represents a far smaller risk than an undetected and untreated dental problem.
Q. Doesn't exposure to radiation cause cancer and birth defects?
A. Scientists have known for some time that exposure to large amounts of radiation is harmful. Extreme doses of radiation can make cancer more likely or alter the genetic material that determines the health of future generations.
The chances are extremely small that dental x-rays contribute to a risk of cancer, because the radiation exposure of a dental x-ray is infinitesimal. Even so, x-ray examinations should be made only when necessary.
Although it's difficult to compare different types of radiation, experts estimate that a full-mouth x-ray examination delivers about the same amount of exposure as four days in naturally-occurring environmental radiation. According to federal and state regulations, persons in occupations involving radiation exposure are permitted to receive annually more than 1,000 times the radiation in a dental x-ray.
Q. What are you doing to protect my child from x-ray exposure?
A. Technological advances have allowed pediatric dentists to significantly reduce patient exposure to radiation from dental x-rays. Modern equipment filters out unnecessary x-rays and restricts the x-ray beam to the area of interest. High-speed film also reduces a patient's exposure. In addition, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that we provide a lead apron for children.
Q. Could I have my child's x-rays sent to a new dentist?
A. Yes, we encourage it. Often the new dentist can refer to earlier x-rays to evaluate changes in your child's mouth. Although your former dentist is considered the owner of the x-rays, the radiographs can be duplicated and sent to your new dentist. You simply need to contact your former dentist and request it.
Approximate Eruption Times
 8 Months |
 10 Months |
 13 Months |
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 16 Months |
 20 Months |
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 6-7 Years |
 7-10 Years |
 10-11 Years |
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 11-12 Years |
 12-17 Years |
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