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Dental x-rays are an integral component of preventive and diagnostic dental care, ensuring your child’s smile stays healthy and sound. Today's digital dental x-rays are more comfortable, precise, and safer than ever before, enhancing your child’s dental experience. Visit our office in beautiful, sunny California to experience the Pediatric Dentistry of San Marcos difference!
Why Are Dental X-Rays Necessary?
Digital dental x-rays are considered the standard of care, and are necessary in pediatric dentistry at specific intervals. Visual dental exams allow us to see only 60% of the tooth’s surface, whereas the other 40% where the teeth touch can only be visualized by x-ray examination. Most children develop cavities between their teeth, which cannot be seen with the naked eye. The intricate images captured by digital dental x-rays also reveal signs of early gum disease, bone loss, and so much more.
Children with minimal spaces between their back teeth benefit from digital radiography, which helps detect hidden problems like cavities between the teeth. X-rays are also helpful in evaluating whether there are extra or missing teeth, checking for growth and development, and ensuring your child's oral development is on track. In rare cases, dental-related cysts and tumors are found only through x-ray detection. Early detection and treatment of dental problems help prevent the need for extensive treatments down the road.
With digital x-rays, we plan orthodontic treatment, evaluate injury after trauma, and assess teeth that have not yet erupted. We can also determine whether your child has adequate space to accommodate the adult teeth developing behind the scenes. The innovative technology helps us track the progress of dental treatments and identify changes in your child's dental health over time.
Are Digital Dental X-Rays Safe for Children?
Digital x-rays have come a long way, delivering a fraction of the already low radiation produced by traditional dental x-rays. To put things in perspective, the amount of radiation produced by a set of traditional pediatric dental x-rays is 0.005 mSv, and according to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the average daily background radiation is around 0.01 mSv. That, combined with the fact that we use digital x-rays and a lead apron with a thyroid collar, dental x-rays amount to far less radiation exposure than that of a regular day! Another comparison to consider is that a set of our dental x-rays is seven times less than the radiation exposure of a one-way flight of 0.035 mSv.
Although digital x-rays are considered safe for kids with minimal radiation exposure, our Pediatric Dentistry of San Marcos team has adopted the ALARA or "As Low as Reasonably Achievable" principle to minimize radiation exposure. Your child's safety and well-being are always our topmost priorities. We base the frequency of x-rays on a child’s risk of cavities and their individual concerns, managing each child’s care according to their specific needs.
Dr. Nadia Bala, Dr. Greg Allen, and our exceptional team carefully evaluated and selected groundbreaking digital dental x-ray equipment that's safer, quicker, and more comfortable than ever. Our system minimizes radiation by 80-90 percent compared to traditional x-ray technology and reduces x-ray scatter by about 50 percent. Today's x-ray technology makes it safe enough for our dental assistants to capture images standing right next to your child. Our digital x-ray system at Pediatric Dentistry of San Marcos is the most up-to-date in the market, with the lowest x-ray exposure for your child.
What Are the Benefits of Digital Dental X-rays
One of the main advantages of digital x-rays compared to traditional imaging technology is the speed at which images are captured. The images are displayed on a computer screen within seconds, significantly reducing your child's time in the dentist's chair. The incredible quality and detail of the images help us diagnose problems and plan for treatment more efficiently.
Digital dental images are easy to store and share with specialists. Using digital sensors to capture images instead of regular film, processing, and biohazardous waste provides an environmentally friendly option to capture images of your little one's smile.
Digital Dental X-Rays Near Me in San Marcos, California
Visit Pediatric Dentistry of San Marcos to learn more about our digital dental x-ray technology and our quality preventive services. Dr. Nadia Bala and Dr. Greg Allen are committed to providing their young patients with cutting-edge dental services and compassionate care to lay the groundwork for healthy smiles for life.
Looking for exceptional care from the best pediatric dentists in San Marcos? We invite you to call 760-798-2825 to schedule your child's appointment or complete our online appointment request form today!
Sources: National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, American Cancer Society, United States Department of Energy, and the Department of Health and Human Services.
We're Ready For Your Ducklings!
We are excited to care for little ones and be part of their journey to bright and healthy smiles. Follow the link to request an appointment that best fits your busy schedule. We can’t wait to meet you!
