Digital X-rays
Of the many technological advances in dentistry in recent decades, digital x-rays has been one of the biggest. Digital x-rays have changed the way we practice dentistry for several reasons:
- Instant results
- Digital enhancement for better detection of cavities, disease, etc
- No more chemicals
- Enlargements and ability to zoom for detail
- 3D Cone Beam/CT X-rays
To be sure, we always go by the rule of ALARA: As Low as Reasonably Achievable. What that means is, we take only as many x-rays as necessary to diagnose problems, or to screen for possible problems. In other words, only what we need and no more. While dental x-rays are incredibly safe For more on that, see my blog post: Dental X-rays: Which, Why, & When?
Speed of care
In the old days we waited 3-5 minutes to process an film x-ray. With digital x-rays though, the image appears instantly for us to read and evaluate. During procedures that require an x-ray at several steps, instant results are a huge help! We can use digital enhancement to zoom in and look at incredible details.
Safety
We understand that the thought of taking x-rays can provoke anxiety. Fortunately, digital x-rays reduce radiation risk significantly because the exposure time is much lower compared to traditional films. And even with digital xray technology, we still minimize the number of x-rays that we take, and we only take films when necessary.
It’s also important to note that some people require more x-rays than other people because some people have a higher cavity rate, a dry mouth, or a history of significant dental treatment in the past with multiple crowns and other restorations.
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