When contemplating the change to digital dental in your practice, the choices can be confusing for the dentist. Dental X-rays are one of the most important part of your regular dental treatment.  Dental radiography has evolved from film and chemical developers into a highly technical process that involves various types of digital dental x-ray machine, as well as powerful dental software programs to assist the dentist with image acquisition and diagnostic analysis of the acquired images.

Most of the earliest X-rays depended on photographic films to capture the images and make them readable. Digital detectors skip this step; rather than using light beamed through objects onto film, it allows for digital scanning and image interpretation. In terms of radiation the two are about the same initially, though digital versions typically have a shorter exposure time and as such tend to be more efficient.

Digital dental X-rays are used by dentist to take images of patients' mouth, including tooth structure and jaw bones. In order to take the digital images, dentist – or a dental technician – will place a small sensor in patients' mouth, carefully positioned. This small sensor is connected to the processing computer by a very thin wire. With digital dental X-rays, dentist or other dental professional is able to immediately see patients' teeth and jaw bones. This means that assessment and diagnosis is virtually instantaneous.

The orthodontist requires a way to obtain the size and form of craniofacial structures in the patient. For this reason, a cephalometric extension on the imaging x-ray device is necessary to acquire images that evaluate the five components of the face, the cranium and cranial base, the skeletal maxillae, the skeletal mandible, and maxillary dentition. The cephalometric attachment offers images such as frontal AP and lateral cephs.

If the practice is concentrated in endodontic(dental endodontic instruments) and implant treatment, then a CBCT machine is the most practical method of providing the doctor with diagnostic tools such as mandibular canal location, surgical guides, and pre-surgical treatment planning with the assistance of powerful 3D dental software applications. The patient is benefited by the reduced radiation exposure provided by these machines.

When making the decision to purchase x-ray equipment, the doctor needs to research the available options thoroughly, in order to make an informed choice for the “right” machine for his or her practice. The benefits are immense, the process is simple and painless for patiens.