Why Do Dentists Use Digital Dental X-Rays?

If you have visited a dentist for a toothache or jaw pain, they most likely recommended taking an X-ray. While a dentist can observe the exterior of your teeth, gums, and mouth, they can’t see the interior structures with the naked eye. Underlying oral problems like tooth decay and oral cancer can go unnoticed for a long time, endangering your oral health.

Thankfully, dental X-rays or imaging offers a powerful and efficient way to observe the interior of your oral structures, ensuring proper diagnosis and treatment for oral problems. Recent dentistry improvements allow dentists to use safer and low-radiation digital X-rays instead of the traditional X-rays that they previously used.

While traditional X-rays are effective, they have some concerns, like higher radiation exposure, longer waiting time, and messy preparations. For this reason, most dental professionals opt for digital X-rays. Keep reading to learn how digital x-rays work and why most dentists choose them.

How do digital dental X-rays work?

Generally, the process of digital and traditional X-rays is quite similar. The only major difference is that traditional X-rays use films to produce images, while digital X-rays use a digital sensor connected to a computer screen. The digital sensor instantly captures and projects the image on the computer screen.

Our dentist in Sharon, MA,uses X-rays to evaluate oral health by checking for problems such as cavities, tooth decay, gum disease, jawbone disorders, oral cancer, dental injuries, and impacted wisdom teeth. Similarly, dental x-rays can be used in children to monitor their oral development and facilitate early treatment for potential issues. X-rays are crucial during tooth extraction, dental implants, and orthodontic treatments.

8 incredible benefits of digital dental X-rays

Below are common reasons why your dentist uses digital X-rays:

• Less radiation

According to research, digital dental X-rays use 80 – 90% less radiation than traditional X-rays. Low radiation significantly reduces the potential risks of long-term radiation exposure. It also makes dental X-rays safer for people worried about significant radiation exposure, like pregnant women and people with thyroid problems.

• Faster appointments

Traditional X-rays require a few minutes to prepare and produce images. DigitalX-ray technology instantly produces images on the screen, making dental appointments quick.

• Easier treatments

Digital dental X-rays allow for the early detection of oral problems like tooth decay, jawbone disorders, gum disease, and oral cancer. This allows for early treatment and eliminates the need for complex, more invasive, and expensive treatments. This preserves your oral health and saves you time and money. At Sharon Dental Group, we offer preventive dentistry in Sharon, MA.

• High-quality images

Since the technology uses a digital sensor, it offers high resolution, accuracy, and clarity, producing excellent images. It gives a better, clear, and more detailed image of your teeth, gums, and other nearby structures.

• Enlargement options

With traditional X-rays, the image is produced on a film, meaning you can only view it in its original size. Since digital X-rays transmit through a computer screen, the dentist can use specific software to manipulate the image’s size, color, or brightness. It enables the dentist to see even the most minor details.

• Precise diagnosis

Digital X-rays provide excellent clarity and accuracy that might not be possible with traditional X-rays. It can show the tiniest details deep in the teeth, gums, or jawbone, significantly reducing the risk of making a wrong diagnosis. With the correct diagnosis, the dentist will effectively address the root problem and restore your oral health.

• Easy access

Once the digital X-ray sensor takes the image, it’s transmitted electronically to a computer screen instantly. You can share the images with another dentist or specialist miles away in seconds if necessary. The digitized form of the images also makes it easy to store patient records. They are unlikely to be lost or misplaced.

• Environment friendly

Traditional dental X-rays require chemicals to develop images on the film. Digital X-rays work like a digital camera and transmit images electronically, eliminating the need for messy preparation chemicals. It is safer for the dentist and the environment.

Schedule an appointment today

Are you interested in getting digital dental X-rays in Sharon, MA? Schedule a dentist appointment at Sharon Dental Group for more information.