The world around us is constantly changing as new technology changes the way we live our lives and the possibilities of what we can achieve. The world of dentistry is no different and is constantly evolving and improving thanks to the introduction of new technology. One of the most significant new technologies in dentistry is the digital x-ray.

This has made possible treatments that would have been almost unimaginable twenty or even ten years ago. For example, digital x-rays have allowed the introduction of Cerec technology, a system that allows dentists to design, manufacture and fit dental restorations like veneers and crowns in just a single appointment. This has drastically reduced waiting times and procedure times for all patients.

Digital x-rays also have several other distinct advantages over the more traditional form of imaging. The images produced by a digital x-ray are available to the dentist almost immediately, as opposed to the time it used to take to develop traditional x-ray film. This has reduced treatment time and allowed dentists to be a lot more efficient.

Digital x-ray images can also be stored on a computer. This means they can be compared more closely to other previous x-rays and the computer can highlight any changes between the two images. This has resulted in dentist being more able to distinguish even the most subtle changes in the teeth and spot any problems or symptoms that may have occurred.

Digital x-rays also require significantly less radiation than their more old-fashioned counterparts. This means they are safer to use for both patients and Central London dentists who need to x-ray on a daily basis. You can find out more information about digital x-rays and their benefits at your next check up or by asking your dentist.

X-rays are an important part of any thorough dental examination and patients awaiting any kind of dental surgery or procedure will usually be extensively x-rayed to allow the dentist a clearer idea of the structure of their teeth. These conventional x-rays can take several days to develop, which adds to the overall treatment time and means that more than one appointment is always necessary, no matter how small the operation. In recent years dentists have been able to use new digital x-ray technology that removes the need for lengthy developing.

Digital x-rays offer images that use 80 per cent less radiation, one of the major concerns of extensive x-raying on dental patients. They also do not need any kind of chemical developing which is better for the environment and most importantly much faster than the old method. In fact, digital x-rays produce an almost instantaneous image which can be produced in colour. This image appears on the computer for the dentist to scrutinise in about three seconds and can also be saved onto the hard drive and stored in the patient’s dental records.

This instant imaging has allowed the development of several new and incredible dental technologies, most notably CEREC. This kind of ceramic reconstruction can now be carried out in only one appointment meaning patients can have crowns, veneers and inlays designed and fitted in only one visit to the dentists. This time saving measure has made digital x-ray a must-have technology for all Central London dentists who are using it to provide cutting-edge dental treatment.

For dentists in the past, building up a three-dimensional image of a patient’s mouth was a difficult and drawn out process. It involved taking several uncomfortable dental moulds of the patient and then some x-rays which would take several days to develop. This lengthy process added to patient’s waiting times and treatment times by increasing the number of appointments required for each procedure.

Dental technology has come along way in the last two decades and the advent of computer technology is finally revolutionising the industry. The latest technological wizardry comes in the form of digital x-rays. Also known as digital radiography, images are transferred digitally onto the computer which removes the need for lengthy photographic development. Digital sensors capture an image of the patient’s teeth which is then immediately available to the dentist. It is also possible to save the images onto the hard drive and store in the patient’s file for future reference..

This instant access has made a whole new range of treatment possible almost instantaneously. The microscopic accuracy of the image has also had positive effects on the quality of treatment. However, the most stunning aspect of digital x-rays is the ability to use the images produced in computer-aided manufacture. It is now possible to manufacture crowns and veneers in a matter of minutes, a process that used to take up to two weeks from start to finish. Digital x-rays have been the foundation stone for all of this new technology.

Digital x-rays are so cutting-edge that they are not available in all dentists’ surgeries at the moment. They do however represent the future of dental treatment. Ask a City of London dentist about the possibilities of digital x-rays and whether they have or are planning to use the very latest in dental technology.

In the past dentists have had to rely on dental moulds and x-rays to build up a 3D picture of what a patients teeth look like. They would then use these images to construct dental prosthetics and artificial teeth. This was a painstaking process that often took weeks. Even the moulding and x-ray processes were lengthy and required patients to make several visits to the surgery.

In the last twenty years however, vast improvements have been made in dental technology. The introduction of computer aided manufacture and design has greatly improved both the efficiency and accuracy of dental procedures. Dentists are now able to design, manufacture and install crowns and veneers in one appointment. All of these improvements have been made possible by the use of digital radiography, otherwise known as digital x-rays.

Digital x-rays is a form of x-ray imaging that uses sensors instead of conventional photographic film. Because the images are transferred digitally, the lengthy developing process has been made redundant, cutting waiting times and cost. Digital x-ray sensors capture images of the patient’s mouth and make it available as a digital file that is readily available for viewing. It can also be saved as part of a patient’s long-term case history.

The possibility for dentists to view, study and save an exact digital image of the patients mouth has made easier a whole range of previously incredibly complex dental procedures. The microscopic accuracy of the images has also improved the quality of the treatment.

Digital x-ray cameras are the very latest in cosmetic dental technology, due to their cost, not every dentist will have one in their surgery but they definitely represent the future of dentistry. Ask your City of London dentist about the possibilities of digital x-rays.