What Are the Advantages of Digital Dental X-Ray?
What Is a Digital Dental X-Ray?
It is a technology for radio-imaging, producing images that dentists in Pleasant Hill, CA, can use as a tool for diagnosis and treatment of dental problems. Digital x-rays in Pleasant Hill, CA, are alternatives to traditional film x-rays, emitting up to 90% lower radiation levels.
How Does a Digital Dental X-Ray Work?
Traditional and digital x-rays near you work similarly. It only requires a dentist to insert a sensor into your mouth that will capture the images of your oral cavity, including the jaw. After the sensor takes the images, it relays them directly to a computer screen for easy access. If you need them printed out, the dentist will use the digital sensor together with a scanner
Why Do I Need Digital Dental X-rays?
Our dental team at Grafton Dental will not recommend dental x-rays if you do not need them. X-rays are diagnostic tools that allow a dentist to make an accurate prognosis before determining the most suitable treatment for you. During a physical dental exam, your attending dentist can only access the gums and teeth. Any anomaly with your jaw or tooth roots is out of access unless through radio-imaging.
Dentists will typically recommend digital x-rays to examine the severity or extent of infections, for example, dental cavities or gum disease. Therefore, a dentist can treat the underlying cause of your dental problem instead of just addressing the symptoms you experience. Besides, dentists also take dental x-rays before performing intricate procedures. For example, if you want to undergo a root canal procedure, the dentist needs to look at the internal shape of your tooth. Analyzing the canal of your tooth first will increase the success rate of the endodontic treatment, preventing root canal failures.
Another way that dental x-rays are crucial is for monitoring emerging teeth. Sometimes you may suffer from impacted teeth and not know because the tooth has remained underneath the gum tissue. An x-ray can help analyze the positioning of the tooth to determine the best treatment. Further, x-rays can help monitor your jaw’s health, making them a necessary tool for treating conditions like temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
Are Dental X-rays Safe?
The radiation levels for x-ray imaging are very low and unlikely to cause health problems. However, dental experts will take extra measures to even lower your radiation exposure. For example, you will wear a thyroid collar and protective lead apron during the x-ray. Besides, you will not be taking x-rays frequently if your oral health is great.
How Frequently Will I Need Digital X-Rays?
The frequency you will need dental x-rays will be determined by a dentist, usually based on your underlying oral needs. Generally, adults need fewer dental x-rays than children. If you are intentional and consistent with regular dental exams and cleanings, you will need fewer x-rays than the average person. Besides that, patients with underlying health problems are susceptible to many oral problems. Therefore, they may require more x-rays than usual. If you are concerned about the frequency of these digital tests, liaise with your dentist to work out a different solution for your dental health.
What Are the Advantages of Digital X-Rays?
There is nothing wrong with needing a dental x-ray every once in a while. Besides, digital x-rays offer more benefits than traditional x-rays, including the following:
- On-screen images – dental images are relayed directly on a computer screen. Therefore, a dentist can manipulate it however they want, including zooming in and out for a close inspection.
- Convenience – when it comes to keeping medical records, you will be glad that your dental x-rays are not printed out. Storing them in digital storage preserves data for a long time while providing quick and convenient access. This also makes information sharing swifter between dental experts during referrals.
- Time-saving – dentists do not have to wait until an x-ray image film is developed before they can access your records. Right after an x-ray, your treatment can commence.
- Environmentally friendly – since no hardcopy films are created with digital x-rays, unnecessary chemicals will not be released into the environment.
- Lower levels of radiation – even though traditional x-rays use low radiation levels to take dental images, digital x-rays are lower.