Digital Radiography

Beachwood, OH

Digital radiography is dental technology that we use to capture images of your teeth, jaw, and mouth. Like traditional radiography, this digital version uses x-rays to generate these images. There are a number of benefits to using digital radiography that help us better diagnose dental conditions and plan out dental procedures. The team here at Aspire Dental Spa makes use of digital radiography often in order to ensure that you receive the best treatment possible.

What Is Digital Radiography?

Digital radiography uses digital x-rays rather than traditional x-rays in order to diagnose various conditions related to your teeth and jaw. This diagnostic tool can be used in three different ways: direct, indirect, and semi-indirect. Direct images are created by placing a special sensor in your mouth, while indirect images use a scanner to transfer traditional x-rays into digital images. The semi-indirect method combines a traditional x-ray scanner with a sensor to convert traditional x-rays.

How Does Digital Radiography Work?

The method used to create digital images often depends on what type of digital radiograph we need. There are two types of images, intraoral and extraoral. Intraoral radiographs are taken from inside your mouth, while extraoral images are done from the outside. Intraoral x-rays are more common. Intraoral images may be either a periapical x-ray or a bitewing x-ray. Periapical or limited images typically focus on one tooth, showing it in detail from the crown down to the area of jawbone that supports it. Bitewing x-rays, so named because you will need to bite down on the imaging device, show an area of your mouth. They are primarily used to look at decay and the bone density of the area.

There are a number of different types of extraoral x-rays. We may use panoramic x-rays to create a full view of your mouth from multiple angles. Another option is a sialography x-ray. For this type of x-ray, we will actually inject a special dye into your salivary glands in order to determine if they are blocked or have other issues. Other types of extraoral x-rays focus on one area of the mouth.

Why Is Digital Radiography Better Than Traditional Radiography?

There are a few benefits to digital radiography. First, it can show smaller areas in much more detail. This makes it easier to diagnose some small tumors, cavities, abscesses, and other issues. The images taken with digital x-rays can also be immediately viewed and shared, decreasing the time needed to make a diagnosis. This allows us to more quickly begin treatment for conditions we find. Once we have created the images, we can also zoom in, rotate, and otherwise manipulate the image, allowing us to view the trouble area in a number of different ways.

Who Should Get Digital X-Rays?

Digital x-rays can be useful for anyone. The fact that the amount of radiation used is lower than with traditional x-rays makes them safer. We may make use of digital radiography during your standard six-month exam, before a procedure, or if you come in with a dental emergency. If you would like to discuss having a digital x-ray done, contact Aspire Dental Spa at (216) 342-4388 to make an appointment.