If your child’s clinician has mentioned they’d like to take an X-ray, it’s natural to have questions — why it’s needed, whether it’s safe, and what the appointment will actually involve. Dental X-rays are a routine, well-established part of paediatric dental care, and they’re only ever taken when they’ll genuinely help your child’s clinician understand what’s going on. This guide explains why X-rays are sometimes needed, how we keep radiation exposure low and the experience comfortable, and what to expect on the day.
Why X-rays are sometimes needed
Some things about your child’s teeth simply can’t be seen with the eye alone — such as decay developing between teeth, how an adult tooth is positioned before it comes through, or the roots of a tooth beneath the gum. An X-ray gives your child’s clinician a clearer picture in these situations, which helps them make well-informed recommendations about your child’s care.
X-rays aren’t taken as a routine formality at every visit. Your child’s clinician will only recommend one where there’s a genuine clinical reason to, based on what they’ve found during an examination and your child’s individual needs.
Keeping radiation exposure low
It’s a completely reasonable thing to wonder about, and we want to be upfront: a dental X-ray involves a genuinely small amount of radiation. To put it in context, everyday life already involves a certain amount of background radiation exposure — from things like a flight, ordinary sunlight, and even naturally occurring radiation in foods like bananas. A dental X-ray sits in a similar territory, and our equipment and technique are chosen specifically to keep the amount used as low as reasonably possible while still giving your child’s clinician a clear, useful image. We also only take an X-ray where there’s a genuine clinical reason to, rather than as routine.
Keeping X-rays comfortable for your child
We know that a new piece of equipment near their face can feel a little unfamiliar for a child, so our team takes things gently and explains each step in simple, friendly language before it happens. Please let us know beforehand if your child has particular sensitivities or has found dental visits difficult in the past, so we can plan the appointment around them.
Part of the complete picture
An X-ray is one part of how we get to know your child’s teeth — it doesn’t replace a regular clinical examination, and a clinical examination doesn’t replace an X-ray when one is genuinely needed. Together, they help your child’s clinician see the full picture and make well-informed recommendations about their care.
Frequently asked questions
How often will my child need a dental X-ray?
There’s no fixed schedule that applies to every child. Your child’s clinician will recommend an X-ray only when there’s a clinical reason to, based on their examination and your child’s individual needs.
Is dental X-ray radiation dangerous for children?
A dental X-ray involves a genuinely small amount of radiation — comparable to the everyday background radiation exposure most of us already experience through things like flying, sunlight, or naturally occurring radiation in some foods. Our equipment and technique are chosen to keep the amount used as low as reasonably possible, and your child’s clinician will only recommend an X-ray when the benefit to their care outweighs this small exposure.
What if my child won’t sit still or bite down on the sensor?
That’s okay — our team is used to working with children who feel unsure or find it hard to stay still. We’ll take things at your child’s pace and use child-friendly techniques to help. If an X-ray genuinely can’t be taken on the day, your clinician will discuss the best way forward with you.
Can I stay with my child during the X-ray?
You’re welcome to stay with your child for their appointment, including while the X-ray is being taken. The one practical difference with X-rays is that, for the brief moment the image itself is captured, our team may ask you to step just outside the room or stand at a short distance, since this is a routine, standard part of how radiation exposure is kept low for anyone remaining nearby — you’ll be straight back with your child immediately afterwards. This is a routine radiation safety step, not a general restriction on staying with your child, and it’s separate from Tooth Town’s general anaesthesia policy, where parental presence isn’t possible in the hospital operating theatre, in line with national standards. Please ask our team on the day if you’d like this explained further.
Will an X-ray tell us if my child has a cavity?
An X-ray can help show decay that isn’t visible to the eye, particularly between the teeth. It’s one part of the assessment — your child’s clinician will use both the examination and the X-ray together to explain what they’ve found and what, if anything, is recommended next.
What to do next
If your child’s clinician has recommended an X-ray, or you’d simply like to understand more about what to expect at their next visit, our team is happy to talk it through with you. Book an appointment and we’ll take good care of your child, at their pace, every step of the way.
This guide is general information and doesn’t replace an individual assessment. Your child’s clinician will confirm what’s most appropriate for them after examination.