These X-rays are commonly taken during regular dental checkups and help the dentist identify any underlying problems that you may unknowingly be experiencing. There are four main types of dental X-rays that can be used, and each has its own specific purpose.
First, a periapical X-ray provides a view of the entire tooth, including both the crown and bone that support each individual tooth as a whole. A bitewing X-ray shows how teeth touch each other and produces an image of both the lower and upper posterior teeth. Next, an occlusal X-ray captures the floor of the mouth to identify any extra or hidden teeth below the gum line.
The fourth type of X-ray is a panoramic, which is usually taken for orthodontic patients and shows a view of the teeth, jaw joints, sinuses and nasal area. Depending on your needs, you might have one or more of these X-rays performed to monitor your teeth movement.
Pros of Digital X-rays. Although conventional X-rays have been around for years and have a great reputation for identifying dental issues, digital X-rays are becoming more and more popular among dentists and patients alike for their ease and safety.
Digital X-rays are typically performed with a hand-held device that diagnoses oral health needs more accurately than conventional X-rays and are more comfortable for the patient.
Digital X-ray devices can capture images of your teeth, jaw bones and roots below the gum line just as easily as conventional X-rays, but are much faster. Shorter Dental Appointments -- Digital radiography can also shorten your dental appointment!
With traditional dental X-rays, you'll have to wait while your dentist develops the film. With digital radiography, the sensor develops the picture almost instantly and projects it onto a computer screen right before your eyes. Higher Quality Images -- The standard size of traditional X-rays can make viewing difficult, but digital radiography in dentistry has done away with the "one size fits all" mentality. Once on the screen, digital X-rays can be enlarged or magnified for a better visual of the tooth's structure.
Brightness, contrast and color can also be adjusted, allowing your dentist to see small cavities easier. If you need a hard copy of your X-ray, digital images can also be printed out. Transferring Dental Records -- Digital images can be e-mailed to a dental specialist for immediate review. Digital X-rays are taking away the expense and time needed to copy files and mail them to another dentist, making it easier to transfer dental records or get a second opinion.
Digital dental radiographs can be taken inside intraoral or outside extraoral the mouth. Intraoral X-rays, the most commonly taken dental X-ray, provide great detail and are used to detect cavities, check the status of developing teeth and monitor teeth and bone health.
Extraoral X-rays do not provide the detail of intraoral X-rays and are not used to identify individual tooth problems. However, they are used to detect impacted teeth, monitor jaw growth and development, and identify potential problems between teeth, jaws and temporomandibular joints TMJ , or other facial bones. The CBCT, which requires up to eight times more radiation than panoramic radiographs, does not slice images.
Instead, its cone-shaped beam scans both the upper and lower mouth areas at once. The data is captured by a two-dimensional array and creates high-resolution images, which are then combined to form a 3-D image of the bony structures.
Benefits of digital dental radiographs compared to traditional dental X-rays include the following:. Most practices have more than one sensor, and there also is a cost associated with personnel hours to convert old records to digital. Implementing digital radiography in a dental practice requires additional training that must be periodically updated to account for existing technology that quickly becomes obsolete or unavailable.
The lack of universal digital dental radiography use is another disadvantage. Sensor size: Some direct systems sensors are thicker and bulkier than dental films, causing patient discomfort, especially for those prone to gagging. Digital sensors are smaller than standard film, so they show less image areas. The first step in your oral health journey is to get a digital x-ray done at your dentist's office. Oral images help dentists diagnose issues that could lead to tooth decay or, worse, tooth loss later in your life.
Yet, before you head in for your appointment, you need to be educated on the different types of dental x-rays offered. Specifically, digital or traditional radiography.
Don't know the difference between the two? You're not alone, which is why we're bringing you this guide. Keep reading to learn how traditional and digital imaging procedures differ plus find out why we always recommend choosing digital. Who Needs Dental X-Rays? Dentists order oral x-rays when they want to check out the health of your mouth, gums, and teeth.
X-rays are pictures of the inside of your mouth, which your dentist can use to diagnose problems. For example:. Cavities Tooth decay Impacted teeth If your dentist recommended dental x-rays, don't feel too anxious. They're commonplace, as essential as your routine teeth cleanings. In fact, children, aging individuals, and people with a history of poor oral health i. Also, keep in mind that any time you switch caregivers, your new dentist will want to start off with a fresh set of x-rays.
This is especially true if you've never had dental images taken before. Digital X-Ray Traditional x-rays used to be the only type of radiography dentists offered. Enter digital x-ray technology AKA digital radiography. Today, digital x-rays are more popular than ever and, considering their many benefits, it's no wonder. Let's explore both of these x-ray techniques and why we always recommend going digital.
Traditional X-Rays After being discovered in , practitioners started using traditional x-rays in practice as early as the s. Dentists and doctors used these x-rays to visualize the structure of the body.
Traditional x-rays use radiation to interact with the teeth, gums, and bones in and around the mouth. This interaction produces x-ray images on film, which a dentist would develop and use to diagnose any oral health issues. Types of Traditional Oral X-Rays There are two broad types of traditional x-ray images: intraoral and extraoral x-rays.
Intraoral x-rays are the most common since they photograph the inside of your mouth. Your dentist orders extraoral x-rays when he or she thinks the issue is with the jaw instead of the teeth or gums. There are many different types of traditional intraoral x-rays, depending on the part of your mouth the dentist wants to see.
Bitewing x-rays look at how well your back teeth match up on each side and check for cavities between the teeth. Occlusal x-rays check for underbites or overbites. Panoramic x-rays help the dentist visualize your entire mouth and have multiple uses, including identifying wisdom teeth that need to be removed.
Yet, traditional imaging isn't the only technique out there. In fact, it's not even the technique dentists prefer to use these days.
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