At Elgin Family Dental, we use state-of-the-art digital x-rays. The images captured with our highly-sensitive digital sensors allows us to obtain better image quality with about 80 percent less radiation exposure than traditional film.
Many patients are surprised to learn that they are constantly exposed to background radiation on a daily basis. It is in the sun, the food we eat, the materials used to construct homes and buildings; you are even exposed to radiation when flying! The radiation to which you are exposed during dental procedures represents a minor contribution to the total exposure from all sources.
At Elgin Family Dental, we take your safety very seriously. To protect your thyroid and other areas at risk for exposure, we use a double shield that consists of lead-lined protection. Please talk to us about your concerns.
Digital dental x-rays are an essential diagnostic tool that helps our doctors detect conditions inside your teeth that would not be found during a visual exam. X-rays are extremely important for new patients because we need to determine the status of your oral health, and they give us a baseline so we can identify changes in the future that threaten your oral health. If a previous dentist has current x-rays, we may ask that you request copies for us.
If we recommend a new set of x-rays, it is because we need them to identify current conditions, evaluate the health of your gums, and monitor the growth and development of your teeth. Finding conditions in their early stages often results in less invasive and costly procedures.
Digital x-rays are an invaluable source of information. We want you to feel completely safe with us, so please call if you have questions or safety concerns.