When you take your child to the family dentist in Clifton NJ, you’ll hope that it’s for a routine check-up. During this check-up, the dentist will deep clean your child’s teeth to remove built-up plaque. Sometimes, however, the family dentist in Bloomfield NJ notices something out of the regular. When this happens, they may recommend an X-ray of their mouth. Here are some of the reasons for needing an X-ray.
Reasons for an X-Ray
- Tooth Decay – This is one of the most common reasons for X-rays in children. Although tooth decay can be seen on the surface of their teeth, X-rays help us identify how much of the decay has spread within the tooth.
- Misalignment – Misaligned teeth can grow in that way, or they can also form as a result of childhood habits. This can cause problems with chewing, speaking, and breathing, as well as increase the risk of tooth decay.
- Extra Teeth – X-rays can detect extra teeth that haven’t broken through the gums yet. This extra tooth can cause issues in the future, so the family dentist in Clifton NJ will discuss a treatment plan with you, if necessary.
- Impacted Teeth – Impacted teeth are teeth that have been blocked from breaking through the gums. Since the X-ray shows the entire tooth, it can find dental problems below the gum line as well.
- Other reasons include: infections, cysts, tumors, missing teeth, bone injuries, and bone disease.
X-rays may seem intimidating, but they’re necessary to make a treatment plan. They also help the family dentist in Bloomfield NJ identify problems early-on, which can prevent complications.