Digital Radiographs (X-Rays)

Why are dental x-rays needed?

Many diseases of the oral cavity (including the teeth and surrounding tissues and bone) cannot be seen when the dentist examines your mouth. An x-ray exam may help the dentist see:

• small areas of decay between the teeth or below fillings
• bone damage from a tooth infection (e.g., an abscess or cyst)
• bone loss due to periodontal (gum) disease
• developmental defects
• some types of tumors
• the effects of trauma
• the position of unerupted teeth in children and adults

Finding and treating dental problems at an early stage can save time, money and unneeded discomfort and help prevent more serious health problems. X-ray images may be able to help the dentist detect damage and disease not visible during a regular dental exam.

If you change dentists, you usually can arrange to have copies of your x-ray images sent from you previous dentist to your new dentist. If you are not able to, your new dentist may take x-rays for the reasons listed above, or so he or she can compare them with future x-ray images.

How are digital dental x-ray images made?

Digital imaging uses an x-ray machine like that used for traditional dental x-ray images made with film. But instead of using film in a plastic holder, digital images are made using a small electronic sensor that is placed in your mouth to capture the x-ray image.

Why do we take digital x-ray images?

There are many benefits to using digital dental x-ray images.

• Digital x-ray images require far less radiation (i.e., up to 70% less).
• When the digital x-ray image is exposed, it can be sent directly to a computer and viewed immediately. For x-ray film to be exposed, a staff member must process it in special chemicals, which can take several minutes.
• Digital x-ray images can be enlarged on the computer screen. This makes it much easier for you and the dentist to see the pictures. Traditional x-ray films are viewed as their actual size, which is rather small compared to digital images.
• Digital x-ray images can often be corrected without having to make another x-ray exposure.
• The dental office can print or copy your digital x-ray images. They can also be sent electronically to dental specialists to improve communication or to insurance companies, which can help claims get processed faster.
• Digital x-rays are environmentally friendly. They eliminate the need for film and film processing chemicals.

Are dental x-rays safe?

Dental x-ray exams require very low levels of radiation exposure, which makes the risk of potentially harmful effects very small. A set of bitewing x-ray images creates only a small fraction of the radiation you are exposed to when flying on an airplane.

Dental x-ray tools and techniques are designed to limit the body’s exposure to radiation. Dental practices take steps to limit the area exposed during a dental x-ray exam, including:

• limiting the size of the x-ray beam to the size of the film or sensor being used
• using a leaded apron and thyroid shield that x-rays cannot pass through