Not only do digital dental x-rays produce 90% less radiation than regular x-rays, they provide clearer, high-resolution images that can be instantly displayed and saved.
A major part of the dental exam is taking x-rays of a patient’s teeth. In the past, this process would be mildly annoying – doctors would have to place film into their patients’ mouths and angle an x-ray machine toward it for a simple x-ray.
Nowadays, getting x-rays is a lot faster, safer, and easier than it has been in the past. Since we work with children at Epic Dentistry for Kids in Aurora, we made sure to streamline the process to make it as kid-friendly as possible. Read on to learn about the advances we’ve made!
What is a digital x-ray?
A digital dental x-ray is a new type of x-ray that emits less radiation and produces clearer results than traditional x-rays. Compared to film-based radiology, digital dental rays yield 90% less radiation.
When getting a digital dental x-ray, a tiny sensor will be placed in your child’s mouth to capture multiple images of teeth in the mouth from different angles. This process is a lot easier to administer than the traditional x-ray.
Once the images are taken of the teeth, they are instantly projected onto the computer and screen of the pediatric dentist. Since everything is automatically uploaded online, the risk that the images will be tampered with or lost is eliminated. Best of all, the images will be extremely clear, colorful, and high resolution, so the dentist and the patient can see exactly where their cavities or tooth decay are. Digital dental technology allows the doctor to zoom in and out of the images and save them for future reference as well! Having accurate high-resolution images of the teeth are essential to a doctor’s ability to treat the patient.
Plus, digital x-rays are environmentally friendly since they use no film.
Why do we need digital x-rays?
X-rays are the best way for a pediatric dentist to see what’s going on below the surface of your teeth. There’s only so much that a pediatric dentist can tell from a visual examination of the teeth. X-rays show how the teeth and bones are developing.
For example, if a wisdom tooth is impacted, a dentist would need to take an x-ray to see its progression under the gums. Cavities can also be hidden below the gums or in between teeth. With digital dental x-rays, the pediatric dentist can get a comprehensive picture of how your teeth are and what you can do to improve them.
An x-ray will expose any dental issues that are in their premature stages, so a pediatric dentist can prevent them from getting worse.
Are these x-rays safe?
Yes, as we mentioned earlier, x-rays are totally safe! In fact, you probably get more radiation exposure throughout the day than you do after one dental x-ray. Despite how incredibly safe our x-rays are, we still provide patients with a thick, lead apron to protect them against any harmful rays just in case.
Our pediatric dentist also limits the number of x-rays each patient gets per year. We understand a parent’s concerns about their child, but we never coerce children into taking unwanted x-rays. Digital dental x-rays only need to be taken once or twice a year, with the additional x-ray for special occurrences like root canals.
To learn more about digital x-rays, give us a call! Our Aurora pediatric dentist is a pro with digital dental x-rays and he would be happy to explain the process to patients and their parents.
FAQ
What are digital X-rays in dental?
Digital x-rays are an excellent innovation in imagery technology allowing the staff and dentists to better understand what happens inside the mouth of a patient without needing the use of so much radiation. You will find our office in Aurora equipped to provide you with these great resources.
Are digital X-rays safe?
Absolutely yes! Digital x-rays emit far less radiation than normal x-rays, and every patient who needs to get advanced imaging will be equipped with a protective lead apron as an additional layer of protection against radiation.
What is the difference between a digital X-ray and a normal X-ray?
The main difference between digital x-rays and traditional x-ray imaging is the level of radiation emitted to get the image. The doses of radiation were never harmful considering how rare it is for patients to get x-rays, but it has become even safer now thanks to important developments in the technology used.
How are digital dental X-rays taken?
We will place a very tiny sensor in your child’s mouth, the sensor captures multiple images of the desired area and then transmits these images to the dentist who will examine them to determine if there are any hidden problems with your child’s teeth.
What are the different types of dental X-rays?
X-rays are usually classified according to the area of the body undergoing examination. You will also find differences for several types of advanced imaging, but when it comes to digital x-rays and traditional x-rays, the differences are explained by the levels of radiation used to get any image.
