Making an early diagnosis in any field of health care can be vital in administering the correct treatment early and the world of dentistry is no different. For a long time, x-rays have been invaluable in making a quick diagnosis in the mouth. They can reveal all manner of evils such as bone loss and decay, but also monitor older and ongoing treatments and symptoms like fillings, cosmetic work, crowns and teeth growth. Now however, x-rays have made an even greater leap forward- they have gone digital in the city of Leeds. Old methods of x-rays took film images that could take time to develop and were cumbersome to store. Digital has changed that, although the general principle of ‘getting a shot, hasn’t. It’s only once the image has been taken that digital really comes into its own. The image is fed into a computer and transferred onto a screen immediately. This can then be subjected to 3-D imaging and colour coding if required, and a precise diagnosis can be made on the spot. Of course, this then can be stored on the computer and even be used in conjunction with old x-rays. What this means for the patient is that treatment can begin straight away and nip any problems in the bud!
Tags: 3-D imaging, digital xray
