Digital x-rays are a helpful dental tool that is used to examine the internal structures of your teeth and gums. It is a pain-free procedure that does not cause any pain, and it can be completed in as little as 15 minutes.
Digital x-rays provide orthodontists with improved images that make it easier to detect abnormalities in the mouth. They also make it simpler to keep records since the images can be stored on a hard drive. Traditional x-rays involved using films, so record-keeping meant holding on to it.
Let us explore some of the benefits of getting digital x-rays over traditional ones:
One of the main concerns people have about getting x-rays is how much radiation they will be exposed to. Digital x-rays reduce a patient’s radiation by up to 80% compared to traditional x-rays. The amount of radiation digital images leave patients exposed to is less than what they get from traveling in a plane or staying under direct sunlight.
Getting a digital x-ray often involves having a lead apron placed over your torso to protect the rest of your body from radiation. A sensor is then placed in the patient’s mouth to record images of their teeth and send them to a computer.
The highly detailed images are projected on a computer screen where they can be enhanced with software. The software creates even more detailed images without altering any of the pertinent data. There is no way to alter or improve traditional x-rays.
Digital x-ray images can be stored on a computer folder, disk, or drive. This allows the orthodontist to create a digital file of the patient’s x-rays that can be reviewed as needed, and it also makes it easier for the dentist to notice changes that occur in the patient’s mouth over the years. Easy storage of past x-rays allows the dentist to assess how effective or ineffective past treatments have been.
The electronic nature of digital x-rays also simplifies information sharing between dentists. Instead of sending the physical film to a dentist, a patient has been referred to, the images can be sent electronically with systems like emails.
Eco Dentistry Association states dental practices in the U.S. discard up to 28 million liters of x-ray fixer material each year. These fixers contain toxic chemicals like Boric Anhydride and Ammonium Thiocyanate. They can be poisonous if ingested or inhaled, and they can lead to organs like the liver, kidney, and thyroid becoming damaged.
The sensors used for digital x-rays can take multiple images simultaneously and immediately display the images. Traditional x-rays require using a single film to take the image, and the film still has to be developed.
A digital x-ray exposes you to less radiation while providing faster, more accurate images. Call or visit our West Caldwell clinic to learn more about digital x-rays.
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