X-radiation technology, known more simply as X-ray technology, allows accurate images to be captured of a person, animal, or thing’s internal composition. A generator uses strong electromagnetic light paired with a detector; most things, humans included, will naturally absorb some of the light, which is what allows the detector to map out images and specific locations.

Like old fashioned dental X-rays, digital dental X-rays are used by your dentist to take images of your mouth, including tooth structure and your jaw bones. In order to take the digital images, your dentist – or a dental technician – will place a small sensor in your mouth, carefully positioned. This small sensor is connected to the processing computer by a very thin wire.

There are usually two types of digital radiography. The first, known as indirect digital radiography, involves amorphous silicon (a-Si) flat panel detectors, and it works by converting X-ray images to light and channeling the image through an amorphous silicon photodiode layer that converts it to a digital signal. Thin film transistors (TFTs) then read this digital output, and it is turned into a data file that can be viewed by the dental x-ray machine. The technician checks that the X-ray is of a high quality and shows the desired body part clearly, then he or she forwards it electronically to a radiologist for interpretation. This is the most common form and is used for most medical imagery.

The second type is direct digital radiography and involves amorphous selenium (a-Se) flat panel detectors. This uses a high-voltage electrode to accelerate X-ray photons through a selenium layer, and the pattern is then recorded. This creates an image file that is sent directly to the technician and on to the radiologist.

Your dentist or the dental tech inputs the command for the the X-ray machine to send a X-ray through your teeth and into the sensor, effectively taking a photo of your tooth or teeth. The sensor captures the resulting image and sends it through the wire to the computer. Then your dentist will reposition the sensor and take additional digital X-rays until all of your teeth have been X-rayed. With digital dental X-rays, your dentist or other dental professional is able to immediately see your teeth and jaw bones. This means that assessment and diagnosis is virtually instantaneous.