Digital Sensors
 Dental exams are a crucial component in maintaining your oral health. Routine exams allow us to spot oral health issues in their earliest stages before symptoms even begin to show. Other types of exams allow us to diagnose the cause of the symptoms you are experiencing. Visual exams of your mouth only show us so much, however. There are many components of your mouth that are hidden out of view of the naked eye, but examining these structures is essential for providing an accurate diagnosis and helping you to maintain optimal oral health. At Simon K. Choyee, DDS, Inc., we can get a full picture of the condition of your mouth thanks to digital sensors.
The Importance of Radiographs
Dental exams are necessary for detecting oral health issues, allowing us to then provide you with the necessary treatments to restore your oral health. However, there are many structures in your mouth that we cannot see with the naked eye. Radiographs, or X-rays, allow us to see the areas of your mouth hidden below the gum line, including the roots of your teeth and your jawbone. We can spot root damage, cysts, abscesses, bone loss, and more. This then enables us to accurately diagnose your oral health issues so that we can provide you with the most effective treatment possible.
The Disadvantages of Traditional Radiography
Traditional radiography has been used for decades. This type of radiography uses radiation to capture images of your mouth. Radiation exposure is a major concern for many dental patients, which can cause them to avoid having the necessary images taken. Avoiding X-rays can lead to issues going undetected, which can then significantly compromise your oral health.
Another major disadvantage to traditional radiography is that the images taken in this manner need to be developed in a dark room. This leaves you on your own in the dental chair while your images are being developed. By the time your images are ready, there is little time to go over what we find. You may not fully understand your diagnosis, or you may leave with questions unanswered. This can leave you feeling uncertain about your treatment plan.
Radiography with Digital Sensors
Radiography with digital sensors, or digital X-rays, are a modern improvement upon traditional radiography. Instead of radiation, digital sensors use electronics to capture images of your mouth. Digital sensors are placed in your mouth, allowing us to capture images that are almost instantly displayed on a computer monitor. These enhanced images show us your teeth, jawbone, gums, and other oral structures to accurately diagnose a wide variety of different oral health conditions.
The Benefits of Digital Radiography
Digital radiography provides several significant benefits. These include:
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Spotting decay between your teeth, dental abscesses, cysts, tumors, and more that cannot be detected with a visual examination.
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Your exposure to radiation is reduced up to 95%.
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Images are displayed almost instantly on a computer monitor.
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Specialized software allows us to manipulate the images. We can zoom in on certain areas of your mouth and enhance the images for clarity. We can also change coloration for better contrasting.
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Your images can be stored in a digital file, quickly sent to a specialist or your insurance provider. |
With digital sensors, we can better see the hidden structures of your mouth. We can spot the smallest details, enabling us to help you maintain optimal oral health. For more information about digital sensors, call Simon K. Choyee, DDS, Inc. today at (562) 947-4781. |
