For your added safety and comfort Dr. Charles Weingarten's Aurora dental office uses Digital dental X-rays.
Your tooth is composed of several layers, with a large portion hidden below your gum line and in your jaw bone.
Enamel - The surface 'enamel' that we can visibly examine is meant to protect the inner parts of a tooth. While enamel is the hardest substance in your body, it is by no means indestructible.
Dentin - Below your enamel is Dentin which is necessary to support the enamel.
Pulp - The area containing the nerve and blood vessels that nourish your tooth.
Also hidden are your Jaw bone, joints and ligaments that help support your teeth. Damage, infection or abnormalities below the surface are often invisible but can not be ignored.
X-rays allow us to:
Digital X-rays are quick and easier on you than tradition X-rays. To take a Digital Dental X-ray, we place a small sensor in your mouth which is connected to a computer by a tiny wire. An x-ray beam is then sent through your teeth to record an image of your teeth that is sent to the computer. The sensor can then be repositioned to photograph other sections of your teeth.
Are dental x-rays safe?We are all exposed to a natural background radiation from the environment. Studies have shown that the radiation exposure from traditional dental x-rays is about 1/100th of the amount of radiation received from natural sources. Furthermore, digital X-rays produce 80 - 90% less radiation when compared to traditional dental X-rays.
In addition, digital X-rays are much faster and comfortable to use. As the images are captured electronically, there is no need to develop the X-rays, thus eliminating the disposal of chemicals waste into the environment.
Even though digital dental X-rays produce lower levels of radiation than traditional X-rays, Dr. Weingarten and his Aurora dental associates still take all necessary precautions to limit your exposure by using lead apron shields to protect the body and only taking x-rays when they are absolutely necessary.
