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.
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.