An x-ray picture is a vital element in the diagnosis of problems in dentistry, and other medical fields. An X-ray machine uses radiation to take a picture of a patients internal structure. The word radiation can tend to scare people, but its use in the medical field is closely monitored for safety. Without x-rays a dentist wouldn't be able to find many of the problems that can afflict a patient. Dentists even use lead aprons to cover the rest of your body while the x-ray is being taken.

           An x-ray picture is so important for diagnosis because is allows the dentist to see inside the human anatomy, where many dental problems occur. This eliminates any guesswork from the solution and allows a dentist to act with precision in a procedure like a root canal. Imagine what dentistry was like before x-rays! In fact a dental x-ray exposes the patient to very little radiation, about 2-3 millirem. According to the National Council on Radiation Protection the average U.S. citizen will receive around 360 millirem every year from background sources. At the dental office controlled exposure is a vital step in providing the patient with help.

           The creation of an x-ray picture has changed over the years. As with many other fields, digital technology has revolutionized dentistry with the creation of a digital x-ray. This provides a dentist with a fair number of advantages. Conventional x-rays take some time to develop, making the patient and dentist wait to get the results back. This can be made even worse if the x-ray was done imperfectly. There are any number of variables in the process, from the placement of the x-ray to the film quality to the developer. Proper maintenance and training lessens the chances of one of these variables causing problems but anything can happen. With digital x-rays, the need for a darkroom, developer machine and chemicals is eliminated, making the results virtually instantaneous! What is even more amazing is that the digital x-ray only exposes the patient to about one-tenth the radiation of a conventional x-ray!

          An x-ray picture is a standard and extremely important part of dental examination, and there is no reason to be worried about the exposure to radiation. If you are pregnant or have other worries about getting an x-ray, tell your dentist beforehand. The dentists at the Atlanta Dental Group PC are dedicated to their patients' good health and well being and you are welcome to join our family of patients. If you would like to make an appointment with Dr. Padolsky, call 404-874-7428.