Dental X-Rays
Stuart, FL
 Radiography or x-rays have tremendously advanced over the years compared to what they used to be. The traditional x-ray consisted of film and had to go through a chemical process to be developed. This made the process extremely slow, and if a dentist’s office was busy, it could take several days before you get to review your x-ray.
With the new technology used to create x-rays or digital radiography, there is little to no downtime waiting to see the x-rays. Our dentist offices use digital radiography which allows us to find any problems at a much faster rate. This also allows for regular cleanings to go by much quicker and lets our patients continue about their daily lives. Let our professional staff at Colin M. McKinney, DMD give you a much needed dental exam to ensure that your x-rays look healthy.
How Digital Radiography Is Used
Digital radiography uses x-ray sensors to take pictures of the mouth, teeth, and gums. Digital radiography sensors produce high-quality images that allow our dentists to see every part of the teeth, gums, and mouth.
Digital x-ray images can be acquired through three different methods that include: direct, indirect, and semi-indirect methods. The direct method places the sensors directly in the mouth to create images. The indirect method uses a scanner for x-ray film to look at traditional dental radiographs as digital images.
The last method that can be used, the semi-indirect method, includes the use of a dental x-ray scanner and sensors to create digital radiography images. These sensors are typically placed inside the mouth and are positioned in different ways to achieve all the angles needed. This placement method gives our dentists the best view of cavities and how to treat them properly.
The Benefits of Using Digital Radiography
Compared to the traditional x-ray method, many different benefits come from using digital radiography. Digital radiography reveals small, almost hidden areas of decay between teeth or previously filled teeth, infections, cysts, abscesses, tumors, cancer, and abnormalities due to development that cannot be detected with a traditional x-ray.
With new technology that can be programmed onto computers, digital radiographs can be viewed instantly on the screen after taking them. This means that if there is a severe problem, action can be taken immediately to fix it and solve any pain that a patient may have. Since radiation exposure can be a cause of cancer, digital radiography sensors require up to eighty percent less radiation than the traditional use of film.
New features of digital radiography include zoom, contrast, and even color-coding certain areas of the mouth, teeth, and gums, which provide our dentists with a better view than using the old x-ray method. The use of digital radiography to take images of your teeth is not only beneficial to our dentists, but it is beneficial to you. Ultimately, the use of traditional x-rays is less beneficial and more harmful than the use of digital radiography.
To schedule an appointment for new x-rays and a dental exam, please call Colin M. McKinney, DMD at (772) 266-2223 to earn your way to better dental hygiene. |
