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Digital X-Ray has been widely used in medicine for many years and is becoming increasingly common in dentistry. More and more doctors want to learn about the possibilities of digital radiography and perhaps use such systems in their practice. Today there is no question whether it is necessary to use digital technologies in practice, the question is: when will you be ready for this?
Digital X-ray sensors offer the following significant advantages over conventional film-to-film technology:
Dental x-rays provide important information about your dental health. They are used to create images called radiographs.
Your dentist uses the images to see your jawbones, the roots of your teeth, teeth under your gums and the areas between teeth.
X-ray images help your dentist find problems that cannot be easily seen during your regular dental exam. Treating dental problems at an early stage can help stop them from getting worse and prevent pain. It also can help you avoid more serious health problems.
Dental x-rays use very low levels of radiation, much less than that used in other medical imaging. They are done only when needed to make a diagnosis or to help your dentist make a treatment plan for you. Your dentist will use your health history, present oral health and risk for disease to decide if x-rays are necessary.
If you change dentists, you may be able to have copies of your x-ray images sent from your last dental office to your new one. If not, your new dentist may need to take x-rays to get a full picture of your oral health. This will also help your dentist create a baseline to see how your oral health may change over time.
Dental practices take steps to protect you from radiation, including:
Many dental offices use digital dental x-ray images. Benefits of digital x-rays include:
Tell your dentist if you are or might be pregnant. Current guidelines say it’s better for a pregnant woman to have necessary dental x-rays rather than put off having them at a later date. This is because dental disease that is not treated during pregnancy can lead to problems for you and your unborn baby.
Radiation therapy to treat head or neck cancer may increase your risk of tooth decay. The dose of radiation from regular dental x-rays is very small compared to the dose used to treat cancer. It’s important to have x-ray exams as needed to find dental problems at an early stage and treat them before they get worse.
Federal and state governments have regulations about the proper, safe and effective use of x-rays in dentistry. Your dentist follows these rules to keep you safe. If you have questions about x-rays, talk with your dentist or dental staff.
This bitewing shows several areas of decay between (and within) teeth.
This periapical x-ray shows the top of a molar unable to reach the surface (impacted).
This occlusal x-ray shows a tooth that hasnot yet reached the surface (unerupted).
Complete series x-ray.
This panoramic x-ray shows baby teeth as well as the developing permanent teeth that have not yet reached the surface.
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