Digital Radiography in Dentistry: Technology, Advantages, and Clinical Applications Explained

Digital Radiography

The term digital radiography refers to a method of capturing a radiographic image using a sensor, breaking it into electronic pieces and presenting and storing the image using a computer.

Not limited to intraoral images, panoramic and cephalometric image may also be obtained.

Digital Radiography Indications

• Detect disease, lesion and conditions of teeth and surrounding structures.
• To confirm the detected diseases.
• To evaluate growth and development.
• To document the condition of a patient.
• To illustrate changes secondary to caries, periodontal disease or trauma.
• To provide information during dental procedure such as root canal instrumentation and surgical placement of implants.

Read And Learn More: Oral Radiology Question And Answers

Three Methods to obtain digital image

Direct digital imaging

Sensor is placed directly in patient’s mouth and exposed to radiation this sensor captures the image, and they transmits the image to a computer monitor in seconds.

Indirect digital imaging

Rinsing X-ray film is digitalized using CCD camera, which scan the image and converts the image and then display it on computer, screen.

Storage Phosphor imaging

• Wireless digital radiography system.
• A reversible imaging plate coated with phosphors is used.
• These plates are flexible and fi into mouth.

Equipment

• X-radiation source.
• Intraoral senses.
• Digital image display.

Digital Radiography Advantages

• Superior gray scale resolution
• Easy reproducibility
• Reduced exposure to radiation
• Increased speed of image viewing
• Lower equipment and film cost.
• Increased efficiency.
• Enhancement of diagnostic image.

Digital Radiography Disadvantages

• Initial set-up is costly.
• Image quality is still a source of debate.
• Sensor size—these are thicker than intraoral fims and therefore no patient compliant.
• Infection control, the sensor has to be covered adequately in a disposable plastic wrapper.
• Legal issues, because the original digital image can be manipulated, it is debatable whether digital radiographs can be used as evidence in lawsuits.