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Richard N. Benjamin, D.D.S.
Christy M. Benjamin, D.M.D.

907 Lincoln Ave. Prospect Park, PA 19076(610) 583-5052
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Posts for tag: x-rays

Advanced Equipment and Safe Practices Ensure X-Ray Safety for Children

By Richard N. Benjamin, D.D.S., P.C.
November 20, 2018
Category: Oral Health
Tags: pediatric dentistry   x-rays  
AdvancedEquipmentandSafePracticesEnsureX-RaySafetyforChildren

When it comes to our children’s safety, there isn’t much nowadays that isn’t under scrutiny. Whether food, clothing, toys and more, we ask the same question: can it be harmful to children?

That also includes tried and true healthcare practices. One in particular, the routine x-ray, has been an integral part of dental care for nearly a century. As a means for detecting tooth decay much earlier than by sight, it has without a doubt helped save billions of teeth.

But is it safe for children? The reason to ask is because x-rays are an invisible form of electromagnetic radiation that can penetrate human tissue. As with other forms of radiation, elevated or frequent exposure to x-rays could damage tissue and increase the future risk of cancer.

But while there is potential for harm, dentists take great care to never expose patients, especially children, to that level or frequency of radiation. They incorporate a number of safeguards based on a principle followed by all healthcare professionals in regard to x-rays called ALARA, an acronym for “as low as reasonably achievable.” This means dentists and physicians use as low an exposure of x-ray energy as is needed to achieve a reasonable beneficial outcome. In dentistry, that’s identifying and treating tooth decay.

X-ray equipment advances are a good example of ALARA in action. Digital imaging, which has largely replaced film, requires less x-ray radiation for the same results than its older counterpart. Camera equipment has also become more efficient, with modern units containing lower settings for children to ensure the proper amount of exposure.

Dentists are also careful how often they take x-ray images with their patients, only doing so when absolutely necessary. As a result, dental patients by and large experience lower dosages of x-ray radiation in a year than they receive from natural radiation background sources found every day in the environment.

Dentists are committed to using x-ray technology in as safe and beneficial a way as possible. Still, if you have concerns please feel free to discuss it further with your dental provider. Both of you have the same goal—that your children have both healthy mouths and healthy bodies for the rest of their lives.

If you would like more information on x-ray safety for children, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “X-Ray Safety for Children.”

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The Simple Bitewing X-Ray is a Game Changer for Maintaining Dental Health

By Richard N. Benjamin, D.D.S., P.C.
July 24, 2017
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: x-rays  
TheSimpleBitewingX-RayisaGameChangerforMaintainingDentalHealth

X-rays are such a routine part of dental care that it's easy to overlook how much this technology has revolutionized detecting and treating tooth decay. It's safe to say x-rays have helped save hundreds of millions of teeth over the last hundred years.

Thanks to its unique properties these invisible electro-magnetic waves give us precise images of the interior structure of teeth and gums. It's so precise that we can clearly detect even a small spot of softened, decayed tooth structure on an exposed x-ray film, often before it becomes visible to the naked eye. As a result, we can begin treating the decay earlier, minimizing the damage and increasing the chances for preserving the tooth.

There are a variety of ways we can utilize x-ray technology in diagnosing dental problems. The one, though, that's used the most is called the bitewing. The name comes from wing-like tabs extending out from a thin frame holding a segment of unexposed film. A technician places the frame inside the patient's mouth with the film on the tongue side of the teeth, and has them bite down on the tabs to hold the frame still. They then aim a camera at the patient's outer cheek, which then emits a very short burst of x-ray energy to expose the film.

Bitewings are popular because they give a full view of the back and side teeth, where decay is often hard to detect, with very little radiation exposure to the patient. And as x-ray technology has progressed over the years with digital processing and more efficient equipment, we can acquire sharper images with even less exposure. We've also developed standard protocols for when and how often we perform x-rays, so that we're getting the most diagnostic benefit for the least amount of exposure time.

Those few minutes getting an x-ray may seem routine, but the benefits to your dental health are truly amazing. The bitewing and other forms of x-rays play a huge role in helping us keep your teeth as healthy as they possibly can.

If you would like more information on x-ray diagnostics, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Bitewing X-Rays.”

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Archive:

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        • Dakota Johnson and Her Missing Tooth Gap Sparks Online Debate
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        • Eating the Right Carbs Helps Keep Your Gums Healthy
        • Fluoridated Drinking Water Helps Curb Tooth Decay Safely
        • Orthodontics: More Than Straightening a Crooked Smile
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        • Stop Gum Disease Before it Harms Your Health
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        • 4 Tips to Prevent Childhood Tooth Decay
        • Not Jazzed About Wearing Braces? Consider Clear Aligners Instead
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        • Why Alfonso Ribeiro Is Grateful for Root Canal Treatment
        • Lingual Braces Offer a Less Visible Alternative to Traditional Braces
  • 2018
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        • Regardless of What You've Seen Online, Don't Fear a Root Canal Treatment
        • Practice Daily Oral Hygiene to Prevent Calcified Plaque Formation
        • J-Lo's Unlucky Break: Chipping a Tooth on Stage
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        • You may need a Periodontist to Fully Treat Your Gum Disease
        • Advanced Equipment and Safe Practices Ensure X-Ray Safety for Children
        • Removing Teeth Could Improve an Orthodontic Outcome
      • October (4)
        • Beyonce Makes Flossing a Family Affair
        • Eat the Right Kind of Carbs to Protect Yourself from Gum Disease
        • 4 Signs Your Child May Have a Poor Bite
        • Root Canal Treatment Alleviates Pain and Saves Your Tooth
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        • How to Treat the Problem of Teeth that Never Developed
        • A Retainer Helps You Keep Your New Smile After Braces
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        • Have Your Loose Tooth Examined as Soon as Possible
        • 2.6 Million Fans 'Like' Justin Bieber's Chipped Tooth
        • Treating a Child's Tooth Injury May Require Special Consideration
      • July (3)
        • Anchorage Devices Provide More Accuracy, Less Treatment Time for Braces
        • We'll Help You Maintain Your Oral Health After Gum Disease
        • Baseball's Francisco Lindor Shines as "Mr. Smile"
      • June (3)
        • Be Sure to have These 3 Essentials Covered Beforehand for Veneer Success
        • Keep Alert for this Extreme Form of Gingivitis
        • Stop Wearing Your Dentures While You Sleep!
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        • What You Should Know About Veneers for Teenagers
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        • Dental Crowns for the King of Magic
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        • Why the Bottled Variety Might not be Your Best Choice for Clean Drinking Water
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        • Regular Screenings Could Help With Early Oral Cancer Detection
        • Teething Troubles Make Tennis Superstar Not-So-Serena
      • January (3)
        • Early Action Needed to Save Your Tooth from Root Resorption
        • Partial Dentures: an Affordable Alternative to More Expensive Restorations
        • Why You Should Still Floss with an Implant-Supported Bridge
  • 2017
      • December (2)
        • Jamie Foxx Chips a Tooth - This Time by Accident!
        • Support Your Child's Dental Development with Preventive Care
      • November (2)
        • How to Lessen the Effects of Chronic Dry Mouth
        • Weather the 'Storm' of Teething with These Comfort Tips
      • October (3)
        • (Don't) Break It Like Beckham
        • Is Laser Treatment a Good Option for Controlling Gum Disease?
        • Why Dental Care is Even More Important When You're Pregnant
      • September (2)
        • The Secret to Preventing Gum Disease - Control Bacterial Plaque
        • Game, Set, Match: Milos Raonic Says A Mouthguard Helps Him Win
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        • Teeth Grinding in Older Children and Adolescents a Cause for Concern
        • Actress Emma Stone Reveals How Thumb Sucking Affected Her Teeth
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        • The Simple Bitewing X-Ray is a Game Changer for Maintaining Dental Health
        • Dr. Travis Stork: If Only I'd Worn A Mouthguard!
        • Include Limitations on Sugar in Your Tooth Decay Prevention Strategy
      • June (2)
        • Expert Advice: Vivica A. Fox on Kissing and Oral health
        • Dealing with the Reality of Increased Disease Risk with Braces
      • May (2)
        • No "Glee" in Tooth Grinding
        • A Bonded Retainer Could be a Preferred Choice over a Removable One
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        • Any Time, Any Place: Cam Newton's Guide to Flossing
        • Take Steps to Save an Incoming Tooth's Place to Avoid a Poor Bite
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        • How Kathy Bates Retains Her Movie-Star Smile
        • Conscious Sedation can Help Ease Your Child's Dental Visit Anxiety
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        • Eden Sher and the Lost Retainer
        • Try Conservative Measures to Treating TMD Before More Aggressive Options
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        • Nancy O'Dell on Making Oral Hygiene Fun for Kids
        • 'Tooth in One Day' Procedures Require Special Attention for Success
        • In Today's NFL, Oral Hygiene Takes Center Stage
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        • 3 Questions You Should Ask Before Undergoing Adult Orthodontics
      • November (2)
        • Life Is Sometimes a Grind for Brooke Shields
        • 4 Reasons you may want Your Dentist to Whiten Your Teeth
      • October (2)
        • Johnny's Teeth Aren't Rotten Any More
        • Don't let Gum Disease - the 'Other Dental Disease' - Rob you of Your Smile
      • September (3)
        • Actor David Ramsey Says: Don't Forget to Floss!
        • Treating Gum Disease Important to Saving the Underlying Bone
        • A Royal Fix
      • August (2)
        • Local Anesthesia Eliminates Pain Completely During Dental Work
        • Dr. Travis Stork: Don't Ignore Bleeding Gums
      • July (2)
        • Clear Aligners Reduce Risk for Developing Gum Disease Better than Braces
        • A Toothless Tiger?
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        • Even Celebrities Like Jennifer Lawrence Aren't Immune From Bad Breath!
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        • Moving Just a Few Teeth can have Big Results
        • Actor David Ramsey Discusses Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
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        • Keep a Watchful Eye on Your Child's Teeth Grinding Habit
        • New Front Teeth for a Teenaged David Duchovny
        • Good Oral Hygiene Just as Important for Implants as for Natural Teeth
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        • Implant-based Overdentures may be a Better Long-Term Fit Option
        • Dwight Howard: A Bright NBA Star With a Smile to Match
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        • 3 Ways to Reduce the Bacteria in Your Mouth that Cause Tooth Decay
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Dr. Richard Benjamin and Dr. Christy Benjamin

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907 Lincoln Ave.
Prospect Park, PA 19076
(610) 583-5052

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