DIGITAL X-RAYS ARE SAFER and more convenient than traditional film. Find out why.
Why Do I Need an X-Ray?
Dental x-rays help your dentist see between teeth and under fillings. This way they can detect tooth decay early, meaning less complex and cheaper treatment for you the patient. Dental X-rays can also detect infection in the roots of teeth and for children help detect problems with growing adult teeth.
Latest Technology
Many patients dislike having x-rays taken, they remember how uncomfortable it can be to get a dental x-ray taken. Biting down on a sharp piece of x-ray film, while the dentist and nurse hid themselves away used to be an unavoidable part of dental care.
However, new technologies have developed which can eliminate this type of discomfort, as well as providing better-quality images. Over recent years research has shown that 50% of dental practices have moved to digital x-rays. Dental digital x-rays are a product of modern technological progress.
With digital x-rays, the x-ray film is replaced with an electronic sensor or plate which ‘captures an image’ from the small amount of x-rays that the x-ray has produced. The sensor relays information back to a computer screen, where both dentist and patient can instantly see how the patient’s teeth are doing. Plates are scanned and can produce an image in about 2 minutes which is much faster than a film which takes 15-20 minutes before it can be seen.
Digital ‘full jaw’ x-ray
Safer
Digital x-rays have another great advantage, they are safer! Digital x-rays generally cut in half the amount of x-rays needed so both the patient and the dentist are safer.
Greener
Digital x-rays are also environmentally friendly. No toxic chemicals are needed to develop them and there is no paper or lead waste to have to dispose of from the film package.
The Digital Dentist
At PMA Dental Care Gravesend we moved to digital x-rays in 2006. As part of our fully computerised practice digital x-rays make care for our patients safer and more convenient. Two of our Dental Nurses are also qualified dental radiographers.
