Dental X-rays for Kids

I was just asked last week if I wanted to have x-rays done on my son who is 8. They said that is usually when they start doing them since they now have some adult teeth. It was the 1st time that they asked me. I would wait till at least this age since they still only have baby teeth and no adult teeth. I hhope this helps.

M. from Maine

You are exposed to more radiation when traveling by plane than from a dental x-ray. Also, a day in the sun exposes you to more radiation. Sunblock doesn't block radiation. Dental x-rays show decay, jaw formation and placement of adult teeth. It's a small amount once a year for a good reason. People who freak out about dental x-rays don't really understand science and where other forms of radiation come from in our everyday lives.

My kids started at 2 years old, and get them every 2 years. It's a small amount of radiation, and tooth decay now can lead to huge issues later. To me, I think it's a case of an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure.

The office I work at usually does not take them until age 6. Even then, it's sometimes difficult for the kids so we don't push it. They are taken to identify cavities between the teeth as well as other issues. As another poster indicated, they can also be used to check the placement (or lack therof) of permanent teeth. As more and more studies are showing the link between oral health problems and disease (diabetes, heart disease, etc.), it's even more important to start your kids off with good dental habits now.

We don't do them either. I won't even get one for myself unless there is an issue. I think they are mostly unneccessary, my dentist doesn't push them. I will get one every other year or so, to make sure I don't have anything going on under fillings.
I am actually very well versed in Science, so I understand that radiation damage is cumulative. There is a place for it in medicine, but like all medical applications one must weigh risk and benefits. I believe that an x-ray every year is not warranted for myself or my child. Someone with major dental issues might have a different outcome of a risk/benefit analysis.
Good luck.

My son is 9 and will be getting his first one tomarrow.(not a full mouth but only one the side that has the decay). I dont think they are needed for baby teeth, and adult teeth arent in until later. You can look in the mouth and typically see most problems. Floss that gets stuck in between teeth can signal decay between them.

Taking magnesium will Strengthen the teeth.

I also ask the dentists to cover our thyroid with a xray apron whever we get xrays of any kind, and we take iodine (lugols) for several days ahead of time to saturate the thyroid so that it can withstand the radiation.

My daughter got her first during her first visit when she was 2 1/2. I didn't even think about it.

My kids have had them. I think the amount of radiation is so minimal that it's worth it. For my youngest - he had major damage to one tooth that wouldn't have shown other than an x-ray. We have also have the panoramic x-ray (a full mouth scan) that shows the formation of the adult teeth.

I would ask the dentist directly and share your concerns about why you are reluctant. My kids are 5 and 7 and they have each had 2 sets of x-rays because we changed dentists 2 years ago.

Put it off as long as possible. Not usually necessary if the kid has a healthy diet and cleaning regime. Also do not worrry. The new technology for doing xrays is 100 times better than when we were kids. The radiation exposure is 100 times less as it is so much faster and the results are fantastic. VERY few dentists use the old kind method to do xrays. The beauty of xrays is that they can show up a problem such as a benign cyst in the mouth area. I had one that go infected when in my teens - above the roof of my mouth. The pain was INTENSE and if it was not for old xrays, it would have been perhaps impossible to diagnose. We all had xrays in my family and my dad is 80 years old and healthy. My mother is early 70's

My dentist told me he doesn't need to x-rays until my kids baby teeth start to fall out. Then they will start unless my children are having a problem.

If the dentist suggests an x-ray, I'd get one. But I don't thin k either one will need them if the dentist takes a look and it all looks fine.

My daughter had one at age 3 but that was mainly due to she chipped a tooth and we obviously needed to see how much damage was done. My ped dentist said they try to advoid untill age 8 unless they see something they want to check out with an x-ray. At my ped dentist they start around age 8 and do it every other year unless they find something that needs to be looked into further, it is a very low dose of radiation and always wear the vest.