Digital Dental X-Rays
Periodic dental x-rays allow our dentist to see below the surfaces of your teeth. Decay can hide underneath your enamel or just below the gum line, making it impossible to detect with only a visual dental exam.
Dental x-rays are an essential part of preventive dentistry. We will recommend them periodically to rule out any problems.
We Use an Ultra-Safe Digital Dental X-Ray System
Digital x-rays allow us to accurately and efficiently diagnose dental conditions. When performed regularly, dental x-rays help us to make an earlier diagnosis that could prevent more serious dental problems in the future.
What Makes Digital Dental X-Rays Different?
By using digital dental x-rays in our office, we obtain the highest resolution images available. This allows our dentist to accurately analyze the condition of your teeth as well as your periodontal and bone health.
By taking a proactive approach to your dental care, we can prevent many common dental conditions that lead to root canal treatment, painful emergencies, and even tooth loss.
How Digital X-Rays Work
We will place a small digital sensor in your mouth adjacent to the tooth or teeth we wish to capture. Our team will activate the x-ray machine, and in just a second or two, we will have a picture of the target area.
We will move the digital sensor around to each section of your mouth to obtain images of each tooth.
Benefits of Digital Dental X-Rays
Digital dental x-rays are very safe. They reduce the amount of radiation emitted during the process by as much as 80 percent. You receive more radiation by being outside on a sunny day than you do from digital dental x-rays, so there is no reason to worry.
The health benefits of getting routine dental x-rays far outweigh the risk. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about this process.
Because the images we capture are sent to our treatment room monitors, our dentist can bring them up on the screen for immediate review. This is especially important when diagnosing emergency dental conditions. That way, you do not have to wait for an answer, and we can work quickly to relieve any discomfort you are experiencing.
Digital images allow us to zoom in, adjust exposure, and modify the contrast of each image, so our dentist always has the most accurate information about your oral health and can provide you with the best dental care possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Today's digital x-rays are far safer than traditional radiographs. They emit less radiation, equivalent to taking a short walk in the sun. They also produce crisp and resizable images for your dentist, and this contributes to improved diagnostics and better treatment planning.
Additionally, digital x-rays are environmentally friendly compared to radiographs of the past.
Meet Our Doctor:
Shelby Smith DDS, MS
Pediatric Dentist and Orthodontist
To Educate, Empower, and Inspire.
Dr. Shelby Smith received her DDS degree at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry in 1990. Having found her joy in working with children, she went on to UCLA, where she earned her Masters in Oral Biology and took specialty training in Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry. While there, she also completed a fellowship in treating children with mental retardation and developmental disabilities.
Moving back to her hometown after college, she began practicing in Antioch in 1993, specializing in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics for the past 29 years. Wanting ...