Cape Town Smile Studios

One of the most important pieces of equipment in our office is the x-ray machine. We use x-rays to detect problems in your mouth that we can't see with the naked eye.  This includes the detection of cavities between teeth or underneath fillings.

Conventional dental x-rays are wonderful, but they had a few drawbacks:

• Sometimes we might not see a very tiny cavity or a cavity between your teeth.

• The x-rays need some time and effort to take and develop.

• The hygienist positions a hard cardboard film packet in your mouth to get the correct angle.

• Conventional x-rays expose you to an amount of radiation that some might find unacceptable.

• After the x-ray is taken, the hygienist needs a few minutes to develop the film.

• The conventional x-ray tends to discolour with time, rendering them useless after a few years.

Although conventional x-rays are just as valuable today as they were yesterday, many dentists are adopting new technologies. In the early 1980s, some dentists began replacing their conventional x-rays with digital x-ray technology, much like you may have replaced your 35mm camera with a digital camera.

The benefits to our patients when using digital x-rays are:

• We can detect cavities and other problems much earlier, and use preventative measures in treating the tooth.

A small cavity can be seen on the top and on the side of the tooth.

Extensive decay is seen in this tooth which showed only a tiny dark spot on the top of the tooth.

The same tooth seen in 3D - a special feature of digital xrays.

• When using a digital x-ray, we place a small, flat plastic pad in your mouth, press a button and—presto—in a few seconds a picture of your teeth displays on a computer screen.

• Digital x-rays use a small plastic sensor that is easier and faster to position. It takes only seconds to re-take an x-ray—if necessary—and you are exposed to 95% less radiation than conventional x-rays.

• According to the Clinical Research Associates Foundation, digital technology produces sharp images, allowing us to see much greater detail.

• We can instantly enhance the image quality and magnify the image with just a click of the computer mouse.

• Your x-rays can now be sent around the world in 80 seconds!