“When are you going digital, Doctor?” Every dentist who has a dental supply rep call on them has heard this question repeatedly. Many dentists have taken the plunge and converted from film based radiographs to digital radiographs. For those offices who have not yet made the switch, let’s review the benefits.

Digital radiography has changed the way dentistry is practiced. The act of viewing X-rays on a monitor instead of on a view box brings with it several advantages.

1. Size: It sounds simple, but simply having a larger image makes it easier to diagnose the radiograph, and enables you to spot problems earlier. It also makes it easier to show these problems to your patients. This results in better patient understanding, and the result higher treatment plan acceptance.

2. Image Optimization: Film based developers have chemicals which get old and lose their efficacy. Digital X-ray imaging quality is much longer lasting (though eventually sensors drop pixels and phosphor plates age and image quality degrades). Good software gives us the ability to darken/lighten individual images. This allows us to view the perfect image. Additional software tools can let us measure distance or even bone density, and assign a number to it that we can track over time.

3. Time Management: Digital X-rays are so much faster than traditional X-ray developers that your staff saves valuable minutes on each patient. Even endo procedures will go faster. Some will argue that you can see more patients in a day, but this isn’t likely. What is probable is that your staff will have more time to spend with the patients, improving chair side manner, and more time to disinfect, clean, and prepare for the next patient.

4. No Chemicals/Reduced Maintenance: Whether you believe in the concept of ‘green’ or not, everyone appreciates saving money. With traditional X-rays developers you are constantly paying for chemicals and the labor to clean the developer, and parts and labor for repairs. Computers sometime break down, but it’s much more likely that you would be down only in one room. In addition, the computer repair bill is probably less expensive than your service technician and parts.

So, when are you going digital Doctor?

Tags: Dental Imaging and X-Ray, Dental Equipment

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These machines are exactly what they sound like, relatively small, easy to install, and easy to use CT machines, focused on the head and jaw of the patient. These machines are inexpensive when compared to a hospital CT machine, but are priced higher than a standard panoramic x-ray machine. Of course, the images you get are much more detailed than what you would expect from a standard panoramic X-ray.

Why do you need a 3-D Cone Beam CT machine in your practice?

There are a number of reasons why you might want one; for example you might be performing implant surgeries, be working with advanced orthodontic cases, or performing a wide range of oral surgeries. The extra imaging capability of these machines will improve your understanding of the patient’s anatomy, resulting in a higher level of care for your patient. The Cone Beam gives you a detailed three dimensional image that can be manipulated in a variety of ways.

Two of the leading machines on the market are the J. Morita 3D Accuitomo FPD (http://www.jmoritausa.com/accuitomo_80.asp) and the Gendex GXCB-500 (http://www.gxcb500.com/).

These machines use X-ray tube head technology to excite a flat digital sensor, similar to a digital pan. Once the exposure is complete, the software assembles all of these flat pixels into an exact digital 3-D model of the target.

These machines typically take up no more space than a standard panoramic x-ray, although there can be more stringent installation requirements in terms of placement and shielding around the machine. Some of the machines have the patient stand up similar to a pan, but most machines have a seat for the patient to sit in. This is due to the slightly longer exposure time and the importance of the patient being absolutely still throughout the exposure.

The images that these machines produce, and the sheer amount of information contained in these images is amazing. The images are completely 3-D, and can be manipulated on all axis.

In addition, the software gives you the capability to zoom, crop, slice, and dissect. Dentistry is no longer only about filling cavities. As the industry and profession continue to advance, the Cone Beam will become more mainstream, and will eventually become the new standard of care.

Tags: Dental Imaging and X-Ray, Dental Equipment

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Dental imaging equipment helps the dentist to see areas of the tooth structure that are not visible from external observation.

What to look for when choosing dental imaging and x-ray equipment

Intra-oral/panoramic:

Although you may not use panoramic dental imaging equipment as much as intra-oral dental imaging equipment, chances are you cannot do without either of them so you are better off buying dental imaging equipment with this capability that can produce these kinds of images and even more if possible. Intra-oral dental imaging involves the imaging of the internal part of the mouth mostly teeth in a row or just and individual tooth. A panoramic view however is taken of half an arc of the mouth or a row of teeth.

Digital / or film dental imaging and x-ray:

Digital dental imaging equipment offer an advantage in that you can directly transfer the images to your office computer manipulate them, send them or file them for reference or for continued patient care. Film needing technologies takes time and takes more maintenance and funds because accessories like film and chemicals to develop the film. Digital imagery is cheaper than film dental imaging. Digital imaging also means less radiation exposure for the patient and also helps the dentist who wishes to maintain a paperless to do so.

Radiation protection:

It is important to provide protection against radiation for the operator of imaging equipment in the practice as well as the patient. The patients must be protected in all areas that are not under treatment and the operator should be behind a protective barrier to operate the imaging machine. If possible choose x-ray machines with DC high frequency rather than AC imaging machines as they emit less radiation. Exposure to x-ray radiation is believed to be carcinogenic; so this is something you will want to take very seriously in your clinic.

3-D imaging:

Although it is a relatively new feature in dental imaging industry it does come with considerable advantages. 3-D dental imaging is useful in the evaluation if craniofacial surgery and orthodontic treatment because it covers the dental structure but also includes the adjacent structure of the face and skull which are integral parts to the dental structure and play a role in the proper functioning of it.

These features have not been adequately covered by film and 2–D digital dental imaging. To be able to provide the most advanced dental services and to operate at an optimum level choose equipment with 3_D imaging capabilities. If prices are prohibitive you can always go for used dental imaging equipment

Caring for dental imaging equipment

It is important that equipment that may emit radiation is checked regularly to ensure that they are functioning well and that any protection provided within the practice for patients and operators are working well. Any dental imaging equipment with moving parts should be lubricated regularly. A more important consideration is the disinfection of any parts that may come in contact with patient mouths to prevent cross-infection.

As much as dental imaging equipment is concerned it is important to look into the future. Digital imaging and other advancements definitely make your work easier and record keeping is breeze. The initial cost will for sure pay back in a short while.

Tags: Dental Imaging and X-Ray, Dental Equipment

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