What Types of Digital Technologies Are Used in Dentistry?
Digital technology is a broad term used for any technology that utilizes computers to store and manipulate information. Digital technology is especially helpful when it comes to taking and managing medical imagery such as X-rays.
Digital images: Using equipment like intraoral cameras, we can quickly take photos of the interior of the mouth to view and document your oral health. Digital images are easy to manage via computer. The image view can be expanded or shrunk to look at specific areas of the mouth.
Digital X-rays: Prior to the innovation of digital images and X-rays, dental X-rays were taken with a special camera and film or plates. The final X-rays were printed out on large sheets that took up a lot of room and required a special lightbox to view.
Today’s digital X-rays do not require film, plates, or lightboxes. The pictures are taken via a special digital X-ray camera and stored on the computer. The new digital X-rays also need less radiation to produce so they are very safe.