Enter Your Email Address to Receive a
Copy of MedicExhange Member Demograhpics

Dental radiographs, commonly know as X-ray films, or informally, X-rays, are pictures of the teeth, bones, and surrounding soft tissues to help identify problems with the teeth, mouth, and jaw.

These X-ray pictures can show cavities, cancerous or benign masses, hidden dental structures and bone loss that cannot be seen during a general visual examination. Dental X-rays may also be done as follow-up after dental treatments.

A radiographic image is formed by a controlled burst of X-ray radiation which percolates oral structures at different levels before striking the film or sensor. Teeth appear lighter because less radiation penetrates them to reach the film. Dental caries, tooth decay, infections and other changes in the bone density, and the periodontal ligament, will appear darker because X-rays clearly access into these less dense structures.

The dosage of X-ray radiation received by a dental patient is typically small. Incidental exposure is reduced by the use of a lead shield, lead apron, or at times with a lead thyroid collar. There are various films used in the dental field. Below are few types of films regularly used.

• Standard Film which are used for big tooth.
• Non-Screen Film which are useful for both extra-oral and intra-oral views
• Dental film is available in six speeds in order to reduce radiation exposure to operatives and patient.
• Self-Developing Film basically in size 2 is specifically used for smaller dogs and cats.
• Dental X-ray Unit is the main unit that in use in the recent times in clinics, medical units and hospitals. This machine can walled, cassed or mounted. These units can often be bought cheaply second hand.

The most recent advancement in the segment is the use of Advanced Dental Imaging (ADI). This system is delighted to introduce a new 3-dimensional imaging technology. The new technology is known as Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) or Cone-Beam Volumetric Tomography (CBVT). This is an x-ray imaging approach that administers high resolution 3-dimensional images of the jaws and teeth. CBCT images provide inestimable facts which is hardly available in conventional 2-dimensional films. The quality of CBCT images are remarkable compared to other medical CT scans. Clear advantages of the CBCT are its rapid imaging time (under 10 seconds) and its much lower radiation dose compared to medical CT.