Digital X-Rays Technology
Digital radiography (Digital X-Ray) is the latest technology for taking dental X-rays. This technique uses an electronic sensor to capture and store the digital image on a computer. DDR replaced the old film X-ray technique in recent years because it’s more efficient and result in clearer images.
Digital radiography (digital X-ray) is the latest technology used to take dental X-rays. Innovative dentists are using this technique to help make the patient experience more comfortable, less exigent, and more affordable.
Unlike traditional film x-rays, the images captured by digital radiography can be instantly viewed and enlarged. This makes it easier for the dentists to diagnose problems.
What’s more. Digital X-rays provide much less radiation exposure than traditional X-rays, and are an increasingly popular replacement.
In the process of dental care, X-rays are one of the most important, but not the only, tools a dentist and a hygienist use. They provide information that isn’t visible during a dental exam and help to detect hidden problems. Without these X-rays, detecting these problems become difficult. X-rays are essential tools for safe, accurate detection of any problem areas.
Dental X-rays may reveal:
- Abscesses or cysts.
- Bone loss.
- Cancerous and non-cancerous tumors.
- Decay between the teeth.
- Developmental abnormalities.
- Poor tooth and root positions.
- Problems inside a tooth or below the gum line.
Detecting and treating dental problems at an early stage can save you time, money, unnecessary discomfort, and your teeth!
Are Dental X-Rays Safe?
Fast-forward to the present. We are all exposed to some level of natural radiation on a daily basis. Digital x-rays produce a significantly lower level of radiation compared to traditional dental x-rays.
Digital X-Rays offer many advantages, such as the health and safety of patients and the efficiency of dentists. Dentists can use a machine that captures an image of your teeth quickly and easily. These images then take a few seconds to process, which makes the time in the dental office substantially shorter than it would be with a traditional X-ray.
In the past, there have been various concerns with the disposal of harmful chemicals and waste into the environment when shooting an X-ray.
However, because digital images are captured electronically, there is no need to develop an X-ray, eliminating the need for harmful waste and chemicals.
Even though digital X-rays produce a low level of radiation and are considered very safe, dentists still take necessary precautions to limit the patient’s exposure to radiation. These precautions include only taking those X-rays that are necessary, and using lead apron shields to protect the body.
How Often Should Dental X-Rays Be Taken?
Your dentist and dental hygienist will recommend necessary X-rays based on your medical and dental history, a dental exam, signs and symptoms, your age, and risk of disease. You may not need an X-ray if you have very few or no teeth, or if you have only a few dental fillings.
A full mouth series of dental X-rays is recommended for new patients. A full series is usually good for three to five years. Bite-wing X-rays (X-rays of top and bottom teeth biting together) are taken at recall (check-up) visits and are recommended once or twice a year to detect new dental problems.
