Digital X-rays
offer advantages over traditional X-rays.
X-rays are valuable imaging tools a dentist uses to evaluate a patient's bone density, tooth health and issues with tooth attachment to the jaw. Digital X-rays are a newer technology that offer advantages over traditional X-rays.
Digital X-rays
In digital X-rays, or digital radiographs, the film associated with traditional X-rays is replaced with an electronic sensor. This allows a dentist to send the X-ray image directly to a computer, where it can be viewed, stored or printed, according to Colgate.com.
Advantages of Digital X-rays
The images captured through digital X-rays are more versatile. They can be magnified, colored and spatially manipulated. A computer program can compare an old image with a new one and remove all parts of the images, except where there are differences between them. This can show a dentist changes in bone structure that regular viewing would miss.
Considerations
Digital X-rays are expensive, as is the software to run comparison scans. Not all dental practices can afford them, according to Karl R. Koerner's book, "Manual of Minor Oral Surgery for the General Dentist." As with traditional X-rays, the process of capturing the images exposes a dentist's patient to low levels of radiation.
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