By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Are Traditional or Digital X-rays Best for Dental Exams?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > Dental health > Are Traditional or Digital X-rays Best for Dental Exams?
Dental healthSpecialties

Are Traditional or Digital X-rays Best for Dental Exams?

Aaron Casselman
Aaron Casselman
Share
6 Min Read
dental x-rays
Shutterstock Photo License - by Teo Angelovski
SHARE

When talking about the evolution of dental care, it is essential to note that it was made possible by breaking advances in dental technology. The profession is evolving as new technology becomes more widely accessible.

Contents
  • Origin of Dental X-rays
  • Which X-ray is Ideal for Dental Use?
    • Conclusion

Dentistry, in simple terms, is the study and practice of dental health. It is a branch of medical science that focuses solely on dental health. This practice has developed complex methods that allow spotting abnormal teeth conditions that cannot be seen by regular dental examination.

The primary method of examining dental health for abnormalities in dental health is using x-rays. Dental x-rays function similarly to regular x-rays because they are used to identify complicated dental issues so the dentists can diagnose and procure a solution. This technology is essential for every dentist; in some cases, the standard examination might not be enough to spot a dental issue; thus, putting oral health and general health at risk.

General health? Yes, in a study to show how oral health impacts general health, it was seen that some oral health conditions could lead to life-threatening ailments like heart diseases if not identified in time. Hence, using dental x-rays, these oral health diseases can be spotted and treated in time. Highly-trained dentist Dr. Dowse has tested the fact the introduction of x-rays has made it feasible to identify and address some serious dental health issues.

More Read

Smart Phone Device Takes EKGs in 30 seconds
Social Media – Shoulder Surgery Decision Making
Cancer Immunotherapy: Combination Therapy May Be the “Way of the Future”
Developing a Diabetes Management Service
Are New “Quality of Life Drugs” Worth the Expense?

There are practically two types of dental x-rays used in dentistry, traditional and digital x-rays. The former is the first type of x-rays to ever exist in medical science, and the latter is an optimized and enhanced version of the former. This article will highlight the history of both dental x-rays, their work, and which x-ray is best for dental use. So, you should read ensure to read to the end, especially if you have an interest in the topic or you want to learn more about it.

Origin of Dental X-rays

As mentioned earlier, the first type of x-rays to ever exist in medical science is the traditional x-ray. These x-rays were introduced between 1895-1900 and became fully used in 1900. They use radiation beams to scan the body, capturing imaging of the body system for the physician’s use. In dentistry, x-rays were used to capture imaging of the mouth. The dentist uses the obtained image to diagnose the dental issue to procure a competent solution.

These x-rays were in two forms, intraoral and extra oral traditional orals. From their names, you can tell that intraoral involved capturing internal imaging of the mouth, and extra oral involved capturing external imaging. Extra oral traditional x-rays were primarily used when the dentists suspected the dental issue to be from the jaw.

However, from constant use of traditional x-rays, they were discovered to have some drawbacks promoting the development of digital x-rays. Digital x-rays were developed 90years after traditional x-rays and were seen to be more efficient with minimal drawbacks. These x-rays operate similarly to traditional x-rays but use sensors instead of radiation to capture images.

Which X-ray is Ideal for Dental Use?

The points outlined below will compare both types of dental x-rays while giving reasons on which of the two x-rays is ideal for dental use. They include:

  1. Safety: As mentioned earlier, traditional x-rays had some drawbacks, with the primary drawback being the threat is poised to general health. Traditional x-rays exposed the body to excess radiation, a major cause of health conditions like cancer; thus, it was deemed unsafe. However, digital x-rays expose the body to a minimal amount of radiation because it uses sensors, thus, making it safer for general health.
  2. Comfortable examinations: Another drawback of traditional x-rays is that the examination process can be a tad uncomfortable because you must take extra measures to protect your body from radiation exposure. However, with digital x-rays, comfort is ensured as not everything is done easily and quickly.
  3. Time-consuming: Traditional x-rays require time to process the captured images into film (hardcopy), plus the time the dentist will use to study the image before diagnosing the problem. This is different in digital x-rays as it is computerized, where captured images are collected, processed, stored, and displayed in digital form. Plus, the images are clearer, and the availability of a digital storage system makes it easy to acquire the captured images anywhere and at any time.

Conclusion

To answer the question, “which x-rays are ideal for dental use?” we can conclude that digital x-rays have the edge over traditional x-rays in every way, making them a more fair bet for dental use.

TAGGED:dental caredental healthdental technologydental x-rayx-ray
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Aaron Casselman
Aaron Casselman is a medical writer based in central Minnesota, specializing in bioinformatics. With my Master's Degree in bioinformatics, he brings unique insights into topics related to medicine and health.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

dental care
Importance of Good Dental Care for Health and Confidence
Dental health Specialties
October 2, 2025
AI in Healthcare
AI in Healthcare: Technology is Transforming the Global Landscape
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
October 1, 2025
Choosing the Right Swimwear for Health and Safety
News
September 30, 2025
sports concussions
Concussion In Sports: How Common They Are And What You Need To Know
Infographics
September 28, 2025

You Might also Like

Pharma: Funding R&D: High Prices, Overuse A Failed Strategy

May 14, 2012
Home HealthObesityWellness

Diet And Fitness Advice: What Should You Eat To Be Healthy?

May 29, 2019
dental implant myths that must go away
Dental healthSpecialties

Debunking the 9 Biggest Myths of Dental Implants

December 4, 2020
Specialties

What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?

June 14, 2022
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?