Remember your last check-up? What was one of the first things that your dentist did? They probably took a set of x-rays. First, they draped a lead apron over your body and then went behind a wall after aiming the x-ray machine at you. You’ve been experiencing this for years, but this one particular time you thought, “Wait, is this safe?” You know exposure to radiation can be extremely unhealthy, so why is it alright to use it in dentistry? Fortunately, your Lincoln dentist at Williamsburg Dental only uses digital x-rays, which are not only extremely safe for patients, but also have many other benefits.
Are Digital X-Rays Safe?
X-rays are one of the most basic and effective diagnostic tools used not only in dentistry, but the medical field in general. It enables your doctor to see beyond their naked eye and often catch the root cause of problems. The trade-off has always been that x-rays expose people to radiation. While the amount is basically harmless, it can still pose a potential risk to pregnant women and small children.
Fortunately, this exposure has now been greatly reduced due to the invention of digital x-rays. It lessens a person’s exposure to radiation as much as 90% when compared to traditional film-based x-rays. This makes it accessible to a much wider array of patients, allowing us to more effectively treat people. If you still think it might be too much radiation, it’s actually only a fraction of what you are exposed to while just going about your day. Dental x-rays in particular are also much more concentrated than other forms of x-rays (like those taken of your chest or stomach), which further limits your exposure.
The Benefits of Digital X-Rays
Of course, digital x-rays help us beyond simply making our patients safer. They are also better for the people working in our office who are around the equipment all day. Plus, they are no longer exposed to the dangerous chemicals needed to develop film x-rays. This, in turn, is also much better for the environment, because we no longer have to dispose of these chemicals. This ensures a safer environment for everyone in our office, which only leads to better care for our patients.
Digital x-rays are also much faster than traditional ones. They are able to take an image of all of your teeth at once, saving you from having to constantly hold sensors in your mouth. We can take them and immediately show them to you on a chairside monitor. This not only allows us to help you in a much timelier manner, but also gives you a better understanding of what your dentist in Lincoln is seeing. Often, the anxiety associated with dentistry comes from the lack of knowing what the doctor is talking about. Digital x-rays easily bridge this gap so you’ll always be aware of what’s going on. This makes your care much simpler, and helps give you peace of mind.
Any Questions?
We use digital x-rays every day because they are safe, effective, and extremely fast. They are just another way we provide you with cutting-edge dental care.
If you have more questions about digital x-rays and how they work, please give us a call today.