Radiographs are a great weapon available to the dentist to diagnose dental conditions in areas not visible optically, eg decay, bone loss and tooth root morphology and used in fillings (fillings) in endodontic treatments , in tooth extractions, in periodontal treatments etc.
Dental radiographic machines have various categorizations, eg DC and AC circuits, analog or digital and other classifications. Dental machines are used in order to obtain x-rays, and belong to the mandatory fitting of a dentistry.Some dentists have panoramic x-ray machines, the cost of which is quite large, and in my opinion unnecessary for a general dentistry.
A typical x-ray machine is depicted in the photograph below.
It consists of the base,that is mounted onto the wall,and the top of the x-ray,which trasmits radiation at the press of the button The control panel can be wired to the base or the machine can be wireless.If the control panel is wireless ,it is operated by a remote control that looks like the one shown in the next photo.
From the control panel we can choose the tooth that will be depicted in the x-ray so that the machine can automatically adjust the intensity of the radiation, we can choose if the patient is an adult or a child,so in the case of the child to adjust the levels of radiation even lower, and the activation button.The radiation received by the patient is not that enormous. The doses for the X-rays are as follows:
Standard periapical dental Radiograph = 0,0095 mSV
Full-mouth series (18 radiographs) = 0,160 mSV
Panoramic radiography = 0,007 - 0,038 mSV
To understand the analogy, chest X-ray radiation has approximately 0,080 mSV Source
Radiation is depicted at the radiographic (photographic) film that is depicted below.
Then it is developed, in a procedure technically similar to the development of photos before digital photography, namely radiographic chemical fluids, development fluid and fixation fuid,in a dark chamber.
Digital radiographs have an adaptor,so the radiation is much less than conventional radiographs.
Also dentists can save these digital radiographs on the computer.Nevertheless taking a digital radiograph is a bit challenging, especially at the posterior teeth and in small mouths.
Now a few words about the technique of taking a dental x-ray.The doctor places the film in the patient's mouth, behind the area that he wants to be x-rayed.If it is an upper tooth in example,the patient holds the film like this,
gently pressing the radiographic film on the tooth. Another option is to obtain a film holderlike this one
In this case the patinet presses his teeth to the film holder,holding it steady.The holder holds the film in place.
The doctor then configures the angle to depict the area that he wants (when using a holder he simply aims between the ring) and the he presses the button
. After placing the film and adjusting the angle,but also during irradiation,which takes about three seconds, the patient must remain still, because there is the risk of not depicting the area good,so the process needs to repeated.
Children patients and patients having a general problem or eg thyroiditis or are pregnant must wear a dental apron,which is made out of lead. All dentists have one.It is a mandatory dental equipment, so do not hesitate to request one!
Let's see examples of radiographs to have a better understanding.
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| Periapical radiography |
| Panoramic radiography |
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| Full mouth series |
The study of radiographs, is ideally done ,by mounting the x-ray onto a dental projector
situated on a table or up against a wall.Sometimes though,it not that uncommon to look at a dental x-ray against the sunlight!
These are all the facts about dental radiographic machines and x-rays . I hope I gave you food for thought.Do not forget to smile!
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