What Are Dental X-Rays?

Dental x-ray systems allow the dentist to create images of the interior of your teeth, jaw bone and surrounding gums. There are several types of dental x-ray systems.

Traditional X-Ray

Traditional x-ray systems make use of an x-ray emitting element that projects through the mouth on to radiation sensitive film. When the film has been exposed and processed using chemicals, a photo of the mouth is produced. Traditional x-rays are no longer used at SmileQuest. New technology has made it possible to create digital x-rays.

Digital X-Ray

Digital x-rays are similar to traditional x-rays in that they use radiation to produce a picture of the inner portion of your teeth. However, there are several major differences.

Low Radiation Digital X-Rays

Although digital x-rays use radiation to create an image of your teeth, they do so using significantly less radiation. Less radiation means less risk of complications caused by prolonged exposure to radiation. Another major difference between traditional x-rays and digital x-rays is the medium on which the image is captured.

Digital X-Rays Do Not Need Developing

Traditional x-rays use film to capture the image of your teeth. This required higher radiation of the area and also required the use of unhealthy chemicals in the dentist office to develop the film. Digital x-rays do not use film. Instead, the image of your teeth is captured using an electronic sensor. The result is an immediate image of the target area displayed on a computer monitor that can be zoomed, enhanced and annotated and printed.

Dental X-Ray Safety

Digital X-Rays have improved the safety of your dental visit. So little radiation is now used that wearing shields during your pictures is simply an option instead of a requirement. Digital x-rays have made your dental visit safer for you and for our dental team.

How To Avoid Unnecessary X-Ray Exposure

If you are a new client and will be visiting SmileQuest dental in Rocklin for the first time, we suggest that you contact your previous dentist and ask them to mail your previous x-rays and chart or securely transfer them electronically to our office for review. If you have recently had x-rays taken, in may instances there is no reason to do a full set when you start with SmileQuest.

To learn more, call us today for a checkup. Call us today and schedule with our Rocklin Dentist.