Initial Exam and Digital X-rays – What You Need to Know At Smile Shoppe Pediatric Dentistry, we are committed to providing superior dental care for your child. We offer a wide range of pediatric dental services, which are designed to give your child a great smile. Among the several dental care services, we offer include the initial exam, which, among other things, helps us to determine the oral health status of your child.What Happens During the Initial Exam?The initial exam occurs during the first dental visit – when you bring your child to see us for the first time. This can be anywhere from six months to one year, or later than that in case of a delayed visit (It is, however, a good idea to schedule the first visit as soon as your child’s teeth start emerging). If it is not your child’s first dental visit – i.e., visiting us the first time after changing dentists – we will also conduct an initial exam to ascertain the oral health status. The initial exam can vary – regarding what happens – depending on the age of your child. For children between the age of 6 months and one year, the initial exam usually involves evaluation or oral hygiene, assessing the amount of fluoride your child is getting, and an oral examination to detect simple problems such as sores on the tongue, cheeks, and gums. A simple cleaning procedure (using a toothbrush or wet cloth) can also be carried out to remove stains and deposit on your child’s teeth. Another thing that can be considered during the exam is the impact of habits such as thumb sucking and the use of a pacifier on your child’s oral health. For older kids, the initial exam may additional things such as:
Digital X-rays During Initial ExaminationDigital x-rays are just one of the diagnostic tools that we use to evaluate the oral health status of your child. Depending on the age of your child during the initial exam, the visit might include digital dental x-rays. Usually, a digital x-ray is only performed for older children, whose baby teeth have developed completely or are beginning to fall off. However, x-rays can be used for younger kids, even during the first dental visit, if there are visible dental problems such as cavities, broken teeth, fractured jaw, and any other problems that might require more than just a simple examination. Safety Concerns with Digital X-raysGiven that some adults are even a bit scared of digital x-rays, it is reasonable enough to be concerned about the safety of your child during the first and subsequent digital x-ray. After all, overexposure to radiation can cause some health problems. However, we take great care to ensure that your child is completely safe during x-ray examination. Our use of digital x-rays greatly minimizes the exposure to radiation. On top of that, we only perform dental x-rays on your child when it is necessary. At Smile Shoppe Pediatric Dentistry, we understand how scary your child’s initial exam and digital x-rays can be. This is why we are always available to answer any questions you might have about the procedure. Call us today at 470-876-8883 and let us ease any concerns you might have. |
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