Digital dental x-rays are more efficient and safer than traditional film x-rays
Even though conventional dental x-rays only emit low levels of radiation we know some patients are concerned about exposure and their safety. With digital dental x-rays, you need have no concerns because this equipment exposes you to far lower levels of radiation. In fact, digital dental x-rays produce up to 90% less radiation compared with film x-rays. Our digital x-ray equipment is exceptionally well maintained, and we always take every precaution to keep our patients safe during all treatments.
The actual procedure for having a digital dental x-ray is very similar to a traditional x-ray. Our highly trained dental team will carefully insert a sensor into your mouth and which will capture the image of your teeth or jaws. This digital sensor sends the information directly to a computer so that the images taken can be instantly viewed on a screen in the treatment room
Once the digital image is on-screen, we can adjust it if necessary, enlarging or magnifying any areas which require close inspection. This makes it much more straightforward to identify any small cavities or other areas of concern. With digital radiography, we can diagnose any problems more efficiently and more quickly, without the need to wait until an x-ray film is developed. It is also very straightforward for us to show you these images on-screen and to explain any problems and how best to treat them.
Digital dental x-rays can be taken inside your mouth (intraoral), or they may be taken outside your mouth (extraoral). Intraoral digital dental x-rays are the most frequently used x-rays, providing enormous detail about the current condition of your teeth.
Intraoral x-rays include:
- Bite-wing X-Rays: You are almost certainly familiar with bite-wing x-rays, where you must bite down on a sensor for an x-ray can be taken in a specific part of the mouth.
- Periapical X-Rays: A periapical x-ray shows the entire tooth from its crown to the tip of the tooth root, as well as the bone surrounding the tooth.
Extraoral x-rays include:
- Panoramic X-Rays: A panoramic x-ray is taken by a machine that rotates around your head, providing a single detailed image of all your teeth in your upper and lower arch.
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