Dr. Enrico DiVito is a general and cosmetic dentist who specializes in laser dentistry at the Arizona Center for Laser Dentistry in North Scottsdale. A graduate of Arizona State University and the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, Dr. DiVito returned to Arizona and established a private practice in 1980. He founded the Arizona Center for Laser Dentistry in 2007. In this article, he tells us about recent advances in dental x-ray technology.
There are a number of oral problems that we can diagnose through the use of dental x-rays, which is why it is so important that patients get them. As dentists, we rely on x-rays to help us diagnose a host of issues that we just can’t see with the naked eye. We use x-ray technology to determine if a patient has everything from cavities to infections, from misalignment of the teeth all the way to oral decay.
However, for many years, one concern that a lot of people have had about dental x-rays has to do with the amount of radiation involved. After all, we now know that excessive amounts of radiation can cause health problems for everyone, and that the more radiation a person has to go through the more possibility for a disease or cancer to occur. Because of this, we now know that it should always be every dentist or doctor’s goal to decrease the amount of radiation his or her patients are being exposed to.
In our quest for a way to do that—for a way to decrease the amount of radiation patients are being exposed to, but still getting the right information from dental x-rays—we have started using something I think is really great. Here at the Arizona Center for Laser Dentistry, we are now using digital radiology to see inside our patients’ mouths and diagnose the problems we might not be able to see with the human eye.
Implementing this state of the art digital imaging service into our practice is a big step, both in terms of the quality of the image we are getting now and also in terms of the safety of our patients. This switch to digital radiology has been fantastic for a number of reasons.
Through this digital magic, so to speak, the digital radiology that we are using requires far less radiation to get a high-quality film. It’s actually about 90% less radiation, in fact, that what we used to need in order to get a regular film from a patient’s mouth. Our new technology has actually gotten to the point where if a patient spends just a couple hours in the sunlight, then he or she will likely have gotten more exposure to dangerous radiation than the amount he or she is being exposed to during a digital x-ray at our office.
Digital imaging is allowing us to get a better quality, and a better resolution—which in turn helps us to better diagnose and treat these patients more efficiently. So even if radiation wasn’t an issue that a patient was particularly concerned with, he will definitely notice that we are better able to diagnose and treat his problems thanks to this new technology.
Overall, digital imaging is great for a number of reasons, but I just have to emphasize to people that we are getting images that are a better resolution and a better quality than traditional x-rays, with 90% less radiation exposure to patients.
Patients should be aware, though, that not every dentist is using this technology yet, because many aren’t trained using it or don’t understand how it works. To find a dentist who offers digital radiology, patients should ask about it when they book their initial consultation.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
