X-rays are a vital diagnostic tool in the field of dentistry. Like many dental procedures, though, the way X-rays are produced is changing due to advanced digital technology.
What are Digital X-Rays?
In traditional X-rays, a special form of light is used to create an image on film that must be developed. Dentists keep these X-rays filed with a patient’s records to represent the history of care that has been provided over the years. X-rays can detect decay inside a tooth, problems with the bones of the face and jaw, and, in the case of children, can help monitor the development of teeth that have not yet emerged.
Digital X-rays use the same basic process, but the light is directed onto a special sensor that interprets it into a digital image. This digital image is transmitted directly into a computer system where the images are stored. Dentists can maintain patient X-rays on their office computer systems, making them easy to access.
Advantages of Digital Imaging
There are several advantages of digital X-ray technology over traditional X-rays. Although digital X-rays make use of the same type of light used in the traditional method, a lower level is required to produce a clear image. This reduces the level of X-ray radiation a patient is exposed to during X-rays. Even traditional X-rays used a level of radiation considered very safe, but digital X-rays use even less.
Digital X-rays, since they are stored in a computer, can be easily enlarged, rotated, or compared to earlier images in order to make faster, more accurate diagnosis of issues. Many dentists who use digital X-ray technology also use software that allows them to produce comparison images that can quickly compare a series of X-rays taken over a period of time. These comparisons can show how a patient’s teeth have changed over time, giving the dentist a clear idea of where problems might be developing.
To find out more about digital X-rays, please contact our Toronto dental office to schedule an appointment.