The ADA recommends by age 1 or within 6 months of eruption of their first tooth
White spots result during the development of the enamel of the adult teeth-this can happen if the child is sick early on or mother is sick during the end of pregnancy or if the child is given too much fluoride during the time the permanent teeth are developing in the child’s body.
Signs and symptoms are a bubble or pimple near the gum line of a tooth, pain, swelling etc. Not all red gums/irritation could mean infection. Could be ulceration/viral etc. Ulcerations can be caused by trauma by food or toothbrush or injury. Viral usually coincides with fever/sickness.
Yes the color will always be darker. This is due to the nerve dying due to trauma. Usually this is not a problem in a primary/baby tooth unless it results in infection which could affect the development of the tooth’s permanent successor (the adult tooth developing underneath it).
As soon as the biting surface of the first and second molars is through the gums completely-First molars typically erupt at age 6 and second molars at age 12. This is not always the case as some kids develop faster than others.
Usually after all baby teeth are lost and adult successors and second molars are erupted. However, some cases need to start treatment sooner, i.e. severe crowding or if the adult teeth are not in a position that they can erupt in a healthy manner. Therefore it is important to have a panoramic x-ray to evaluate the presence and eruption pattern of developing teeth. Sometimes teeth can be congenitally missing (meaning the adult tooth never developed at all), and it’s also
possible for erupting teeth to cause damage to adjacent teeth if they are positioned sideways rather than upright.
A patient always has the choice of whether to proceed with any recommended treatment. Just as in medical procedures, a patient can refuse a diagnostic test, dental treatment or even dental x-rays!
But your dentist or dental hygienist cannot provide care for you based on an incomplete diagnosis without risking liability for failure to diagnose or treat existing conditions. No patient can give consent for a practitioner to be knowingly negligent. So while you are free to refuse the treatment, your dentist or dental hygienist is also able to refuse to continue non-life-threatening dental treatment.
If you have a concern about dental x-rays, you should discuss the reason behind it with your dentist or dental hygienist. It may not change the need for dental x-rays but perhaps they can be done in a different way or a different number.
Cost is one concern that many patients have. If you have dental insurance, your insurance will often pay for dental x-rays—sometimes even more often than we want to take them! If you do not have insurance, ask if you could make payments on the x-ray portion of the day’s cost or if you could postpone them to no later than your next visit to give you time to save up for the cost.
If dental x-rays cause you discomfort, we may be able to adapt the way they are taken or the size of the film used. If you have a different concern, we will gladly discuss it with you to see if there is a way we can alleviate that concern. In fact, with our digital technology, very little has to be in your mouth in order to take most dental x-rays so the discomfort is greatly reduced!
We work hard to make sure that the dental x-rays we recommend and take are necessary and will give us additional information to assist in your diagnosis and dental care. Dental x-rays are no longer a “one size fits all” recommendation of once every six months or once a year. We look at your health and the past history of cavities and gum disease as well as how vulnerable you might be to oral diseases. We do look at, but are not bound by, the American Dental Association’s 2012 guidelines which were developed with input from both dental and non-dental groups. If your health circumstances change, you might see a difference in how often we recommend dental x-rays.
Some health and lifestyle events that might lead to more frequent taking of dental x-rays include (but are not limited to):
We want to understand your position on dental x-rays, but we also ask that you understand ours and allow us to give you the care you deserve!
But your dentist or dental hygienist cannot provide care for you based on an incomplete diagnosis without risking liability for failure to diagnose or treat existing conditions. No patient can give consent for a practitioner to be knowingly negligent. So while you are free to refuse the treatment, your dentist or dental hygienist is also able to refuse to continue non-life-threatening dental treatment.
If you have a concern about dental x-rays, you should discuss the reason behind it with your dentist or dental hygienist. It may not change the need for dental x-rays but perhaps they can be done in a different way or a different number.
Cost is one concern that many patients have. If you have dental insurance, your insurance will often pay for dental x-rays—sometimes even more often than we want to take them! If you do not have insurance, ask if you could make payments on the x-ray portion of the day’s cost or if you could postpone them to no later than your next visit to give you time to save up for the cost.
If dental x-rays cause you discomfort, we may be able to adapt the way they are taken or the size of the film used. If you have a different concern, we will gladly discuss it with you to see if there is a way we can alleviate that concern. In fact, with our digital technology, very little has to be in your mouth in order to take most dental x-rays so the discomfort is greatly reduced!
We work hard to make sure that the dental x-rays we recommend and take are necessary and will give us additional information to assist in your diagnosis and dental care. Dental x-rays are no longer a “one size fits all” recommendation of once every six months or once a year. We look at your health and the past history of cavities and gum disease as well as how vulnerable you might be to oral diseases. We do look at, but are not bound by, the American Dental Association’s 2012 guidelines which were developed with input from both dental and non-dental groups. If your health circumstances change, you might see a difference in how often we recommend dental x-rays.
Some health and lifestyle events that might lead to more frequent taking of dental x-rays include (but are not limited to):
- Past history of cavities/cavity rate
- Periodontal disease (either active now or in your past)
- Tobacco use
- Systemic diseases that are known to affect teeth or gums (Ex. Diabetes)
- Medications that are known to affect mouths, teeth or gums.
We want to understand your position on dental x-rays, but we also ask that you understand ours and allow us to give you the care you deserve!