Going Digital: How Digital Radiography Improves Dental Practice

Good oral health is essential to enhance your overall well-being. Regular oral exams are crucial to determine the cause and the presence of oral diseases. Radiographs are one such effective diagnostic tool. And with everything being digitized and influenced by AI  (artificial intelligence), why should dental radiography lag?

The family dentist in Kips Bay, New York, and their team of expert oral radiologists have expertise in offering digital X-rays to help dentists tailor appropriate treatment plans. Read through the article to learn how digital X-rays are beneficial. 

What are digital X-rays?

Digital X-rays are a form of advanced imaging technology that uses digital sensors instead of traditional radiographic films to directly capture data during the patient examination. This data is then processed, converted, and transferred to a computer system.

Why are digital X-rays used? 

X-rays help dentists in disease diagnosis by revealing:

  • Tooth and their root positions
  • Abnormal root morphology  
  • Problems inside a tooth or below the gumline
  • Amount of bone resorption
  • The presence of abscesses (pus-filled pockets), cysts (fluid-filled sacs), or tumors (abnormal growth of tissue mass) within the oral cavity
  • The presence of benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) lesions around a particular tooth 
  • Interdental tooth decay
  • Developmental abnormalities of the teeth or jaws
  • The success of root canal treatment, bone grafting, or dental implants.

What are the benefits offered by digital X-rays?

Digital X-rays offer several benefits over traditional X-rays. 

Easy accessibility and storage

  • You do not require processing films, since images are directly transferred and stored in the hard drive.
  • Digital images are not subjected to degradation over time
  • The images are easily accessible and shared across different doctors at the same time. 

Cost-effective 

  • Traditional films and chemical solutions to develop and process them are not required since everything is digitized.
  • This saves you money.
  • Additionally, there is no exposure to fumes or handling of chemical solutions.

Higher quality and faster image processing 

  • Digital X-rays offer more precision and accuracy in terms of quality and detailing.
  • The images can be viewed instantly on a computer monitor, and easily resized without the risk of distortion, and damage.
  • Minimal radiation exposure
  • Digital imaging leads to a drastic reduction of radiation and the need for bulky lead aprons. 

Environmentally friendly 

  • Digital X-rays eliminate the need for chemical processing and film storage, reducing waste and environmental impact. 
  • Enhanced communication
  • These X-rays can be easily shared and transmitted electronically between dental practices, and other specialists.

Conclusion

Digital X-rays serve as safe diagnostic tools utilized to minimize radiation exposure. They assist dentists in pinpointing the origins of oral ailments and crafting tailored treatment strategies. With their efficiency, they have replaced conventional radiographic methods, offering streamlined processes and cost savings.

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