Digital radiography utilizes computer technology and digital sensors for the acquisition, viewing, storage, and sharing of radiographic images. It offers several advantages over the older traditional film based methods of taking x-rays. The most significant of these advantages is that digital radiography reduces a patient’s exposure to radiation. Other benefits are that images can be viewed instantly after being taken, can be seen simultaneously as needed by multiple practitioners, and can be easily shared with other offices. Digital x-rays are also safer for the environment as they do not require any chemicals or paper to develop.
An electronic pad, known as a sensor is used instead of film to acquire a digital image. After the image is taken, it goes directly into the patient’s file on the computer. Once it is stored on the computer, it can be easily viewed on a screen, shared, or printed out.
Completely eliminating the need for messy, traditional impressions, 3D images of the teeth can now be captured with a digital scanning process. By moving a compact and lightweight wand around the teeth, a sophisticated software program can digitally stitch together images from multiple angles to produce a highly accurate 3D digital model of a patient’s upper and lower teeth and bite. Far more comfortable for the patient than impressions taken with putty like materials, a digital impression can be viewed on a computer screen in real time. This highly accurate impression data can also be readily transmitted to orthodontic labs and manufacturers to produce custom appliances.
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