Dental X-Rays

At Golden Kids Dental & Orthodontics, pediatric dental X rays play an important role in helping us monitor your child’s oral health and development. We proudly provide safe, low radiation digital dental X rays for children and teens throughout Golden, Lakewood, Arvada, Evergreen, Wheat Ridge, Morrison, West Pleasant View, and surrounding Colorado communities.

Dental X rays allow our pediatric dental team to detect concerns that may not be visible during a routine dental exam alone. By identifying issues early, we can often provide more conservative and effective treatment while helping children maintain healthy smiles as they grow.

Why Are Dental X Rays Important for Children?

Children’s teeth and jaws change rapidly as they grow and develop. Pediatric dental X rays help our team monitor:

• Tooth development
• Permanent teeth eruption
• Cavities between teeth
• Bone health
• Orthodontic concerns
• Jaw growth and alignment
• Dental infections
• Impacted teeth
• Missing or extra teeth

Because many dental concerns begin below the surface, X rays are an important part of preventive pediatric dental care.

Are Dental X Rays Safe for Children?

Yes. Modern digital dental X rays use very low levels of radiation and are considered extremely safe for children. At Golden Kids Dental & Orthodontics, your child’s safety is always our top priority.

Our office uses advanced digital X ray technology that:

• Reduces radiation exposure
• Produces detailed images quickly
• Improves diagnostic accuracy
• Increases patient comfort
• Allows immediate image viewing

In addition, we carefully follow pediatric dental radiation safety guidelines and only take X rays when they are necessary for your child’s care and development.

Types of Pediatric Dental X Rays

Different types of dental X rays may be recommended depending on your child’s age, oral health, and treatment needs.

Bitewing X Rays

Bitewing X rays are commonly used to detect cavities between teeth and evaluate bone health. These images help identify decay in areas that cannot easily be seen during a visual exam.

Panoramic X Rays

Panoramic dental X rays provide a full view of the teeth, jaws, and facial structures. These images are often used to:

• Monitor tooth development
• Evaluate orthodontic concerns
• Assess wisdom teeth
• Detect impacted teeth
• Review jaw growth

Periapical X Rays

Periapical X rays focus on individual teeth and surrounding bone structures. These images may be used to evaluate dental injuries, infections, or specific areas of concern.

How Often Does My Child Need Dental X Rays?

The frequency of pediatric dental X rays depends on your child’s:

• Age
• Risk for cavities
• Oral health history
• Growth and development
• Orthodontic needs

Some children may need X rays more frequently if they are at higher risk for cavities or dental concerns, while others may need them less often.

Our pediatric dentists follow American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry guidelines and only recommend X rays when clinically appropriate.

What to Expect During Pediatric Dental X Rays

Taking dental X rays is fast, comfortable, and painless. Our friendly pediatric dental team works hard to help children feel relaxed and comfortable throughout the process.

During the appointment:

1. A small digital sensor is gently positioned in the mouth
2. Images are captured within seconds
3. The pediatric dentist reviews the images with parents
4. Any concerns or treatment recommendations are discussed

Digital X rays are completed quickly and are often easier and more comfortable for children than traditional film X rays.

Dental X Rays & Orthodontic Care

Because Golden Kids Dental & Orthodontics provides both pediatric dentistry and orthodontics, dental X rays also help monitor:

• Bite development
• Jaw growth
• Tooth positioning
• Orthodontic spacing concerns
• Timing for orthodontic treatment

Early evaluation can help identify potential orthodontic issues before they become more complex.