Dental Technology

Introduced in 1987, nearly 90 years after traditional x-rays came to fruition, digital radiography combined the power of computer technology with electric sensors and tiny bursts of radiation. Rather than printing the results on film, images form almost as soon as the sensors are placed in our mouths, projecting on a computer screen. Digital x-ray technology does demand additional training for dentists, though the majority of practitioners are adamant that the advantages are worth the commitment. Today, a lot of dental offices only offer patients digital x-rays because, in multiple ways, it is the superior option to traditional radiography.

• Less Expensive | Digital x-rays will generally cost you less than the traditional alternative because the cost of film to develop images for the latter adds up. In contrast, digital x-ray imaging projects right onto our computer.
• Better Storage | Since these digital x-ray images are transferred to a computer system, it allows for easier storage of your oral health records. Your data can be transferred from one dentist to another without any medical data being lost in the exchange.
• Finer Images | Digital x-ray images produce a better resolution than their traditional counterpart. Also, old-fashioned x-rays can only project images in 25 various shades, whereas a digital image can reveal up to 256 shades of grey. Digital radiography also has the advantage of accessing more angles within our mouths, providing a streamlined view of a patient's entire oral structure. With the assistance of computer programs, dentists can even enhance the digital images further, for a focused view.

Dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a special type of x-ray machine that is implemented in scenarios where normal dental or facial x-rays are insufficient. This variation of the CT scanner employs a special type of technology to generate 3D images of dental structures, soft tissues, nerve paths, and bone in the craniofacial area, in one scan. These images allow for more specific treatment planning. The CBCT machine has an x-ray beam, in the shape of a cone, which moves around you to create a large number of high-quality images, or views. It was developed as a means to produce similar images to what a CT provides, though with a significantly smaller and less costly machine that could be situated in an outpatient office. Providing detailed images of the bone, the CBCT machine evaluates diseases of the jaw, dentition, bony structures of the face, sinuses, and nasal cavity. One shortcoming is that it does not provide the comprehensive diagnostic information available with conventional CT, especially in the analyzing of soft tissue structures such as muscles, glands, nerves, and lymph nodes. The CBCT machine can also be used for reconstructive surgery, cephalometric analysis, locating the origin of pathology, surgical planning for impacted teeth, diagnosing temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), and for the accurate placement of dental implants.

About the same size as a marker, intraoral cameras are digital imaging tools used to create high-resolution images of your teeth, gums, and other hard-to-reach places in your mouth. Intraoral cameras help dental professionals detect dental issues, such as tooth decay, periodontal disease, and oral cancer. Other great benefits include:

• You can see, with precision, where you need to focus on brushing or flossing.
• You can see the difference before and after treatment.
• You can see magnified images of your teeth and gums, which helps dental professionals diagnose gum disease and cavities, and if caught early, can help prevent them.
• These photos provide proof for insurance companies to give you the coverage you need.
• Intraoral cameras also limit your time in the office because the images are produced in real-time, and the outcomes are available almost immediately.