Dental X-Rays for Kids: Why They Matter and What to Expect

Dental X-rays help your child’s dentist see what a visual exam cannot, including cavities between teeth, developing permanent teeth, and problems beneath the gums. When recommended, these images provide information that helps guide your child’s care.

At Pediatric Dentistry of Wyoming & Nebraska, we use digital dental X-rays to support diagnosis and treatment planning while limiting radiation exposure. Here’s what parents should know about why, when, and how we use them.

Why Do Children Need Dental X-Rays?

Even a careful dental exam cannot reveal every part of your child’s smile. Teeth that touch closely together can hide cavities, while roots and developing teeth sit beneath the gums.

Dental X-rays can help your pediatric dentist:

• Find tooth decay between teeth or beneath existing fillings.
• Evaluate tooth roots and the bone supporting the teeth.
• Check for infection or damage after a dental injury.
• Identify missing, extra, or impacted teeth.
• Monitor how permanent teeth are developing and coming in.
• Assess wisdom teeth when appropriate.

Finding a problem early may allow for simpler treatment before it causes pain or becomes more difficult to manage.

How Often Do Kids Need Dental X-Rays?

Children do not need X-rays at every dental visit. Your dentist recommends imaging based on your child’s exam findings, dental history, cavity risk, and stage of development.

A child with recent cavities or signs of a dental problem may need images sooner than a child with a lower risk of decay. Previous X-rays also help your dentist decide whether new images are necessary.

We follow American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommendations and tailor imaging to the information needed for your child’s care.

Do baby teeth need X-rays?

Sometimes, yes. Baby teeth help children chew, speak, and hold space for permanent teeth. X-rays may be needed to check for hidden cavities, infection, injuries, or concerns involving the permanent teeth developing underneath.

Whether your child needs an X-ray depends on their individual needs, even when they still have mostly baby teeth.

Are Dental X-Rays Safe for Children?

Dental X-rays use low doses of radiation, but exposure is not risk-free. Your dentist weighs the benefit of obtaining an image against the small radiation risk before recommending it.

Our office uses digital imaging, and we select the type and number of images needed to answer a specific dental question. Taking X-rays only when clinically indicated is an important part of limiting exposure.

If you have concerns, ask us what the recommended images will show and how that information could affect your child’s treatment.

Types of Dental X-Rays Used for Children

Different images show different parts of the mouth. Your child will not necessarily need every type.

Bitewing X-Rays

Bitewings show the crowns of upper and lower back teeth together. They are especially helpful for finding cavities between teeth where a toothbrush, and the dentist’s view, cannot easily reach.

Periapical X-Rays

Periapical images show an entire tooth, from the crown to the root tip, along with the surrounding bone. Your dentist may use them to investigate tooth pain, infection, or an injury.

Occlusal X-Rays

Occlusal images show a broader area of the upper or lower dental arch. They can help evaluate developing teeth, extra teeth, or certain injuries.

Panoramic X-Rays

A panoramic X-ray provides a broad view of the teeth and jaws in one image. It can help your dentist evaluate tooth development, eruption patterns, impacted teeth, and wisdom teeth.

Panoramic images serve a different purpose from bitewings and do not replace them for detecting small cavities between teeth.

What Happens During a Child’s Dental X-Ray?

For images taken inside the mouth, your child gently bites on a small sensor or imaging plate while a team member positions the equipment. For a panoramic image, your child stays still as the machine moves around their head.

The imaging itself is quick, although positioning may take a little practice. We explain each step in simple terms and help your child feel comfortable. Let us know if your child has a sensitive gag reflex, sensory needs, or concerns about the process.

Have Questions About Your Child’s Dental X-Rays?

Understanding why an X-ray is recommended can help you feel more comfortable with your child’s care. Our team is happy to explain what we’re looking for and answer your questions.

Contact Pediatric Dentistry of Wyoming & Nebraska or request an appointment at our Cheyenne, Laramie, or Scottsbluff office.