How Digital X-Rays. Dentists Detect Oral Health Issues Early
Conventional X-rays have helped detect oral health problems for many years. However, modern technology has advanced with how dentists utilize X-rays in dentistry. The advances have made digital X-rays more common to diagnose oral health issues faster and more comfortably.
The most significant benefit of digital X-rays is minimized emission of radiation than traditional X-rays. Digital X-rays emit 90 percent less radiation than their counterparts, making them a favorite when matters related to dental work are concerned. Learn about the history of X-rays in dentistry and how digital X-rays have changed the diagnosis of oral health problems from the information here.
The History of Dental X-Rays
Dentistry has been around for countless years, but when the need for images of the oral cavity became necessary, technology was discovering the resources to provide the images for doctors and dentists. William Roentgen first discovered X-rays in 1895 and adapted their use for dentistry sometime later. Before the end of one year of their discovery, they made the first dental X-ray with updated technology wrapped in black paper, enclosed in rubber material, asking questions to hold in their mouths.
The first dental lab X-ray was established in 1903 in America, and a decade later, commercialization of the first hand Wrapped x-ray film occurred. However, it was only in 1948 that dentistry started using panoramic radiography, and further advances required another four decades before intraoral digital radiography was made commercial.
Digital tomography scanners were introduced in the 90s, and cone beam CT scanners became available by 2001. These scanners become essential because they render 3D images of teeth, soft tissue, and bone in a single scan to identify oral health problems quickly. After the introduction of modern technology, the dental field has improved significantly, especially in digital X-rays.
Common Varieties of Dental X-Rays
If you frequent your dentist for six monthly checkups and exams, you may notice x-ray technology has changed significantly because there are several versions dentists can use to help identify underlying problems you may unknowingly be experiencing—four main types of dental x-rays prevalent among dentists, each with its specific purpose. For example, a periapical X-ray shows the entire tooth, including the crown and the bone supporting it. Second, bitewing X-rays display images of your teeth touching each other, delivering a picture of your upper, lower, and posterior teeth. Third, occlusal X-rays capture photos of your mouth floor to identify extra or hidden teeth beneath the gum line. Finally, panoramic X-rays are usually beneficial for orthodontic patients showing a view of their teeth, jaw joints, sinuses, and nasal area. Depending on your specific needs, you might have the pediatric dentist near you suggesting one or more of the X-rays mentioned above to monitor your teeth’ movement.
Benefits of Digital X-Rays
Conventional X-rays have been around for over a century and have an excellent reputation for identifying dental issues. However, digital X-rays near you are becoming more popular among dentists in patients for their safety and ease of use.
Handheld devices to diagnose oral health issues accurately and comfortably capture images using digital X-rays showing the jaw bones and roots beneath the gum line as quickly as traditional X-rays. However, handheld devices make digital X-rays deliver faster images immediately transferred to a computer for manipulation by the dentist by zooming in or out on a particular area of your mouth to explain better what the picture reveals.
Digital X-rays become essential to protect against bone deterioration, tooth decay, and other dental injuries while aiding in creating a treatment plan for patients needing restorative dental care. The best part of digital X-rays is the less radiation they emit than conventional X-rays, making them a safer option for all patients, including children who receive digital X-rays annually from the pediatric dentist in Bloomfield, CT. In addition, less radiation and improved speed and accuracy make digital X-rays an excellent resource to detect dental issues early to monitor your dental health.
Henceforth if your dentist suggests X-rays during your annual or six monthly exams, kindly do not hesitate to provide the images because digital X-rays in Bloomfield, CT, benefit you from all the above and more by detecting dental problems early to recommend prompt treatment or preventive measures to ensure the issue does not expand.
Bloomfield Pediatric Dentistry routinely uses digital X-ray technology on children, who are often fidgety when visiting dentists for exams and cleanings. You and your kid will enjoy a new experience when the practice uses digital X-rays to capture comprehensive images of your child’s mouth to detect any oral health problems before they expand to need expensive treatments.