Digital X-rays

X-rays emit rays that pass through certain solid objects and leave a shadowy image of that object on a fluorescent screen. Teeth and bone are very dense, so they absorb x-rays, but gums and cheeks are much less dense, so x-rays pass through more easily. That’s why cheeks and gums appear dark and without detail on an x-ray film. But teeth show up much lighter. Fillings, which are even denser than bone, show up as a solid, bright white area. Dental caries (cavities) show up on an x-ray as a darker patch in a light tooth. For this reason, dental x-rays are among the most valuable tools a dentist has for keeping your mouth and teeth healthy. By understanding what the structures of the mouth look like normally on an x-ray film, dentist can diagnose problems in the teeth and jaw.

Digital x-rays use a sensor instead of film. This eliminates the need of developing the film in a dark room, as the image is sent electronically to the computer where the image appears on the screen. This image can be viewed by both the dentist and patient, increasing patient awareness and education. It allows for comparison between images, zooming in for clarity and ability to more clearly assess the situation. UAD uses digital x-rays in a multitude of ways:

• Show areas of decay
• Find decay that is developing underneath an existing filling
• Find cracks or other damage in existing fillings
• Indicate possible bone loss associated with periodontal (gum) disease
• Reveal problems in the root canal, such as infection or death of the nerve
• Help plan, prepare and place tooth implants, orthodontic treatments, dentures, etc
• Reveal other abnormalities such as cysts, cancer and changes associated with metabolic and systemic diseases (such as Paget’s disease and lymphoma)

(Digital x-rays reduce radiation by as much as 80 percent!)