Digital X-ray & Intra-Oral Camera
How we use Digital X-ray System
X-rays allow our team to see the inner workings of patients’ smiles in order to effectively diagnose and treat a number of common oral health concerns including tooth decay, developmental irregularities, and more. Traditional x-rays took a significant amount of time to capture, exposed patients to high doses of radiation, required our staff to physically develop them using hazardous chemicals, and the physical images had to be viewed on a special light board.
Additionally, these physical x-rays had to be stored and transported which could be a hassle. Digital x-rays offer a number of benefits compared with traditional radiography. The most significant improvement is in the quality of the images produced. Digital radiographs are much higher definition allowing our team to more accurately diagnose oral health issues in their early stages.
Digital x-rays are faster and easier to capture, and they expose patients to less radiation. These images are immediately viewable on chairside computer monitors where we can zoom in and out, color code, and otherwise enhance images to help patients understand any oral health issues and treatment options. Digital x-rays are stored in computer files that can quickly and easily be transferred to our patients, insurance providers, or specialists. We are also able to compare images from year to year, to easily determine whether oral health concerns have progressed.
What is an intraoral camera?
While the majority of advanced dental technologies go unnoticed, one innovation that has greatly impacted patients is the use of intraoral photography. Using a specially crafted, pen-sized camera, we capture images of patients’ teeth and gums from the dentist’s perspective. This makes patient education including explaining areas for concern, potential treatment options, and treatment planning a breeze.
Once the images are captured, patients can view them on our chairside computer monitors. There, the dentist can clearly show broken or decayed teeth, and explain what possible treatments are available to repair the damage. Additionally, it’s easy to demonstrate the potential ramifications of foregoing treatment when patients can see how their damaged tooth wears against surrounding teeth and how decay can spread. Intraoral photography can be especially helpful when teaching our youngest patients about how to care for their smiles. We can show them pictures, point to areas that need more attention, and help them find those teeth in their mouth. Intraoral photography has truly transformed the way we are able to interact with our patients.