Bitewing & Panoramic Radiographs

Dental X-Rays For Optimal Oral Health

At Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry, we understand that your child’s safety is your top priority. As your child’s dental provider, we are just as dedicated to their health. For your peace of mind, we use digital X-ray technology to ensure the least amount of radiation exposure while capturing the highest level of detail. We used X-rays called bitewing and panoramic radiographs to help detect hidden problems early, playing an important role in your child’s oral health.

Dentist reviewing bitewing and panoramic dental X rays at Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry

What Are Bitewing And Panoramic Radiographs?

Radiographs are a type of dental X-ray that produce high-quality, detailed images of your child’s mouth. We use two types to get a complete picture of your child’s oral health:

  • Bitewing Radiographs: These types of X-rays help Dr. Skip, Dr. Stephanie or Dr. Katie detect tooth decay in between the teeth.

  • Panoramic Radiographs: These 2D images not only capture the teeth, but also allow our pediatric dentists to get a closer look at your child’s jaws, gums and surrounding bones and tissues—all in a single image.

How Do They Work?

Bitewing and panoramic radiographs use a tiny amount of ionizing radiation, a type of radiation that causes cells to change, to pass through and take images of the body. We may ask your child to bite down on a bite blocker to help them open wide so we can get a clear picture.

We know that the thought of exposing your child to radiation sounds scary and want to reassure you that your child’s actual exposure is very minimal. Plus, X-rays are important diagnostic tools that can help you have peace of mind when it comes to your child’s dental health.

Pediatric dentist reviewing a panoramic dental X-ray with parents during a child’s dental exam at Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry in Wilmington, North Carolina.

What Dental Issues Can Bitewing And Panoramic Radiographs Detect?

These types of dental X-rays capture an overall view of the month and can highlight a wide range of dental conditions that may not be visible in a dental exam. Bitewing and panoramic radiographs are generally taken during your child’s dental checkups as part of their regular preventative care. They can help catch potential problems early, allowing for early diagnosis and treatment before they can become more serious. Potential problems they can reveal include missing permanent teeth and extra teeth, abnormal growths and other dental problems.

Our Pledge To Dental X-ray Safety At Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry

Your child’s safety always comes first. That’s why we take extra precautions to ensure dental X-rays are used only when truly needed—and with the lowest possible exposure. We demonstrate this commitment to safety by:

Our office uses modern technology that provides detailed pictures while emitting less radiation than X-ray machines of the past.

Our team closely follows the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), ensuring X-rays are only taken when necessary and that when they are taken, we follow the proper safety protocols.

Our pediatric dentists always consider your child’s dental needs, as well as their medical history, before recommending bitewing and panoramic radiographs. We may recommend more frequent X-rays if your child is at a higher risk for cavities, but always with your child’s safety in mind.

Bitewing And Panoramic Radiographs FAQs

We believe in educating caregivers so that you can make informed decisions about your child’s dental and overall health. We have answered some questions that parents often have about bitewing and panoramic radiographs and the role that X-rays play in your child’s dental health.

Are bitewing and panoramic radiographs safe?

At Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry, we value the health and safety of our patients above all else, which is why we utilize state-of-the-art equipment to minimize your child’s radiation exposure as much as possible. However, you should not be afraid of X-rays, as they are an important part of your child’s dental health and only expose your child to a very small level of radiation—the equivalent to the amount of exposure you receive during a day in the sun.

It depends on your child’s specific oral health needs, but most patients only need dental X-rays around every year or two. If your child is at higher risk of developing cavities, we may recommend bitewing and panoramic radiographs more often.

Children will need their first dental X-rays around 6 or 7 years of age.

Healthy Smiles Start at Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry

Expert Pediatric Dental Care

At Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry, we make it easy to schedule your child’s next visit! Whether it’s their first dental checkup or a routine cleaning, our friendly team is here to ensure every experience is positive and stress-free. Give us a call at (910) 791-7380 and our team will confirm your preferred date and time. We look forward to helping your child enjoy a lifetime of healthy, happy smiles!

Curly-haired blonde little boy smiling at Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry after a pulpotomy treatment
Two smiling children hugging outdoors on a sunny day, showing healthy and happy smiles after a dental visit.
Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry light-blue logo featuring a smiling tooth surfing on a toothbrush wave with sun icons.

Catching Waves, Creating Smiles

2606 Iron Gate Dr., Suite 200, Wilmington, NC 28412

(910) 791-7380