Digital Dental X-ray and Panoramic Dental X-ray
Digital Dental X-ray
The X-rays provide a lot of detail and allow your dentist to find cavities, check the health of the tooth root and bone surrounding the tooth, check the status of developing teeth, and monitor the general health of your teeth and jawbone.
At Westgate Dental Centre we user a newer dental X-ray technology . It's called digital imaging.
Instead of developing X-ray film in a dark room, the X-rays are sent directly to a computer and can be viewed on screen, stored, or printed out.
There are several benefits of using this new technology:
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The technique uses less radiation than the typical X-ray
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There is no wait time for the X-rays to develop - the images are available on screen a few seconds after being taken.
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The image taken, of a tooth for example, can be enhanced and enlarged many times its actual size on the computer screen, making it easier for the dentist to show you where and what the problem is.
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If necessary, images can be electronically sent to another dentist or specialist - for instance, for a second opinion on a dental problem - to determine if a specialist is needed.
Panoramic Dental X-ray
(available on site)
Panoramic dental x-ray uses a very small dose of ionizing radiation to capture the entire mouth in a single
two-dimensional (2-D) image including the teeth, upper and lower jaws, surrounding structures and tissues.
It is commonly performed by dentists and oral surgeons in everyday practice and may be used to plan treatment for dentures, braces, extractions and implants.
This exam requires little to no special preparation. Tell your doctor if there is a possibility you are pregnant.
Remove any jewellery, eye glasses or metal objects that might interfere with the x-ray images.
You may be asked to wear a lead apron to protect the rest of your body from any radiation exposure.