While we can take a look at your child’s mouth with our eyes, we can’t see below the surface at the roots, within the teeth, or between the teeth. We need X-rays to get an accurate picture of your child’s dental health, bite alignment, and impacted teeth. Since your child’s adult teeth are hidden underneath the baby teeth, we use X-rays to make sure they’re growing in properly.
Dental Exam in Gainesville
Screen And Prevent Gum Disease
Get Exemplary Care With Exams and X-Rays
At Hero Pediatric Dentistry, we keep a close eye on your child’s dental health through regular oral exams and X-rays.
We utilize these screening methods in addition to our regular cleanings to continually monitor changes in your kid’s mouth.
Dental Exams Overview
When your child comes in for their dental cleanings, we conduct an oral exam to check for any areas that might indicate cavities, gum disease, infection, or other problems. If they’re due for an X-ray, we then use X-rays to view parts of the mouth that aren’t visible from an oral exam.
Addresses
Our oral exams and X-rays check for the following:
Tooth decay
Gum disease
Infection
Bone loss
Erupting teeth
Alignment and bone structure
Cysts
How Our Exams and X-Rays Work
Before we start the dental cleaning, we’ll first take an initial look at your child’s mouth to gauge if there are any potential problems. If your child is scheduled for an X-ray, we’ll then help them prepare for the X-ray procedure. It’s completely painless and noninvasive, and it gives us invaluable knowledge about your child’s dental health.
The types of X-rays might include:
- Bitewing X-rays: Bitewing X-rays image the crowns of the bottom and lower teeth in a certain area to show areas of decay.
- Periapical X-rays: This X-ray focuses on just one or two teeth to show the entirety from crown to root.
- Occlusal X-rays: Occlusal X-rays check the way teeth fit together when they bite down.
- Panoramic X-rays: A panoramic X-ray will provide a full image of your child’s entire mouth.
What to Expect
As the first step in their dental exam in Gainesville, we ask your child to open their mouth. Then we take a look to visually get an idea of their dental health and transition to an X-ray, if necessary. We put a leaded apron on your child for safety, which may feel heavy. Depending on the type of X-ray, we may move them to a different room briefly and take the X-ray there. Our hygienist will instruct your child on every step and answer any questions you may have.
Why Even Our X-Rays Are X-ceptional
A Fun, Kid-Friendly Office
We make the dentist’s office a fun place to be with our prizes and games!
Educational Approach
We inform you on everything you need to know about your child’s dental health.
Compassionate Care
We take the time to make you and your child feel comfortable with every step of the process.
Frequently Asked Questions About A Dental Exam in Gainesville
Our oral exams and X-rays are completely painless! The oral exam just examines the mouth to look for any problem areas without any poking or scraping. Your child will not be able to feel an X-ray at all since the waves pass through the body.
Since X-rays do involve radiation, we minimize the amount of X-rays your child receives unless absolutely necessary, and we always take safety precautions such as a leaded apron. The radiation risk from occasional X-rays is incredibly small and is actually comparable to the amount we get from smartphones or even the sun. Furthermore, with advancements in X-ray technology, digital X-rays emit much less radiation than before.
Get an Exam to Know Your Child’s Dental Health
With a dental exam, we can make proper diagnoses to improve your child’s dental care.