Answer to Question #13190 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Medical and Dental Patient Issues

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

Q

I have been going to the same dentist for many years. They have very old x-ray machines. Up until now traditional film was used. Today at my appointment, I was told that my dentist now uses a digital x-ray machine and I will receive less radiation. I was confused. My dentist is still using the same old machines, but now are also using digital x rays, not film. How can this be?

A

The x rays are not digital; the image receptor is. The film is replaced with an electronic device capable of storing the x-ray image. Think about it this way—very old cameras used film to capture and store an image, but today's cameras capture and store the image electronically. The light entering the camera has not changed, but how the light is converted to a picture has.

Kent Lambert, CHP, FHPS

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