Digital X-Ray


Digital X-Ray

Dental X-ray is necessary in certain situations to understand what is happening in the mouth.  Digital X-rays expose less radiation to a patient than other types of dental X-rays. Digital radiography is a form of X-ray imaging, where digital X-ray sensors are used instead of traditional photographic film. Advantages include time efficiency through bypassing chemical processing and the ability to digitally transfer and enhance images. Also less radiation can be used to produce an image of similar contrast to conventional radiography.  They also provide the ability to use color contrast in the images provided.  This gives advantages of immediate image preview and availability; elimination of costly film processing steps; a wider dynamic range, which makes it more forgiving for over- and under-exposure; as well as the ability to apply special image processing techniques that enhance overall display of the image. Although the quality of the X-ray image is not any better than the quality of a film image, many dental practices are switching over to this new technology in efforts to decrease radiation exposure, even if it is just by a little.

 

 

Benefits of digital x-rays include:

  • Reduced patient exposure to radiation
  • No unpleasant smells from the solutions used to develop traditional films
  • The Results are available within seconds to minutes
  • Electronic storage and easy transfer meaning almost immediate viewing of the results
  • Easy image manipulation to enhance diagnosis