Many people require regular X-rays to keep track of their oral health. How often should X-rays be done on my child?
The answer depends on your child’s medical and dental history and the current condition of his/her mouth. Some kids may need X-rays as often as every six months while others who visit the dentist regularly and have excellent oral health may need them less often.
The American Dental Association and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggest that children and teens who have a history of many cavities may need X-rays every six months or every year, depending on age. So may those who have a high risk of decay for other reasons. X-rays also help to keep track of tooth development.
Enchanted Forest Pediatric Dentistry utilizes the latest X-Ray equipment that minimizes radiation and thus any potential issues. As a comparison, 4-bitewing X-Rays (usual number taken) has an equivalent amount of radiation to 0.6 days of natural background radiation (Radiation from our environment including outer space, the ground, building materials, air, and water) while a panoramic X-Ray image is equivalent to 3 days of natural background radiation.