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.

Intraoral cameras are digital imaging tools that dentists utilize to create high-resolution images of your teeth and mouth. These small devices can comfortably fit in your mouth and can be maneuvered over and around your teeth. Once the images are captured, software works to piece them together to develop a digital 3-D model of your mouth. We implement these cameras for various purposes, including a single tooth that needs a restorative procedure or to capture images of soft tissues in our mouths, including our gums and soft palate. A large number of dental issues and conditions that affect our teeth and soft tissues are preventable, which is why intraoral cameras are particular helpful. Dentists can pinpoint and show patients precisely where their oral care needs to be concentrated. Intraoral cameras also limit your time in the office because the images are produced in real-time, and the outcomes are available almost immediately.