Digital Imaging in Dental Treatment
Dental treatments depend heavily on digital imaging technology. In the past, treatments had to be performed without this technology. But with the current advancements, dentists have a clear advantage. Digital imaging in dental treatment is very important in both diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Dentists use digital imaging of teeth and gums to find the problem. With these images, they can diagnose the problem and create a treatment plan. At the same time, sometimes conventional x-rays are no longer sufficient.
Today’s x-ray equipment has improved significantly, and other imaging methods, such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), have also found their way into dentistry. These methods provide detailed visualization of soft tissues such as muscles, connective and nervous tissue, cartilage structures, cavities and fascia without overexposure to radiation.
Digital imaging is increasingly replacing traditional images in dental treatment. The decisive advantages of these systems are faster diagnosis, fewer repetitions, better communication with the colleague in charge and, above all, the reduction of the patient’s radiation exposure by up to 90% thanks to a lower radiation dose.
The diagnostic importance of digital imaging is very high
Digital imaging is mainly used in dentistry to diagnose a disease and control its course. Digital X-rays should be performed before treating periodontal diseases, resection of the root apex, insertion of a prosthesis, or surgical removal of wisdom teeth.
X-rays are used for digital imaging, penetrating tissues, bones and teeth, striking image plates or special sensors. The image plate holds the imprint for up to eight hours, after which the image is created on a special device. In the sensor model, the image is loaded directly into the program by the X-ray machine and can be accessed immediately from a computer.
In Which Situations Is Digital Imaging Used?
Dental surgery and maxillofacial surgery:
• Detection or exclusion of inflammation at the apex of the tooth root (periapical lesion)
• Detecting or ruling out osteitis (osteomyelitis)
• Three-dimensional planning of operations, e.g. before extracting wisdom teeth closely related to the mandibular nevre
• Evidence or exclusion of damage to the mandibular nerve
• Uncertain spatial requirements or tumors in the lower / upper jaw to accurately identify the position, extent and narrowing of possible tumor types
Tooth protection:
- Periodontitis (periodontitis, previously called periodontitis) to accurately record the spread and worsening of the disease
Orthodontics:
- Detecting dental systems (eg wisdom teeth), determining their size and location
- Three-dimensional characteristics of teeth malformations (shape, position, number)
What are the benefits of digital imaging in dental treatment?
Dentists may also benefit from imaging during treatment. In most cases, this is for verification. In more serious cases, imaging can also be used during surgery or during implant placement. In this way, with accurate records, operations and other interventions become easier and safer.
Many things become easier when the dentist knows exactly where the problem lies. The dentist may focus on the problem area. A better location results in more thorough treatment and less damage to the surrounding areas.
Thanks to internal imaging procedures using X-rays, the radiation dose, and therefore patient exposure, has been significantly reduced over the years. With prudent and responsible use, damage from X-rays is almost impossible today. Diagnostic radiation doses are roughly in the range of cosmic rays to which you are exposed on each holiday flight. The diagnostic benefits of x-rays in dentistry far outweigh the risks.
Digital imaging is becoming more and more popular in dental treatment. As the chip is directly exposed and then read, it works faster and requires no developer chemicals.
Modern technology also offers the advantage of image editing. In this way, recordings can be enlarged, contrast or brightness changed. This makes it easier to see the details. This can prevent duplicate imaging images and thus reduce patient exposure to radiation.
Another advantage of digital imaging in dental treatment is the simplified constancy control, i.e. quality control of measurement parameters. All relevant devices are properly tested and adjusted to avoid read errors and other problems. As the records are not chemical in nature, the number of possible error sources and test areas is also reduced. Stability testing can be done easily and with little effort by trained application staff.
At our DentRoyal clinic in Mavişehir in Izmir, we have an MRI device. In this way, we can make a clearer and faster diagnosis for our patients and apply more accurate treatment. Our team will be happy to answer your questions about digital imaging in dental treatment.