Digital X-Rays
Madison, WI

When diagnosing different oral health issues and determining your candidacy for dental implants, we need to perform a thorough oral exam. There are many components in your mouth that we need to look at. While many of these components can be seen, there are many different components that are invisible to the naked eye. At Madison Oral Surgery & Dental Implants, we can see these hidden components, getting a full picture of your oral health, with digital X-rays.

Why are X-Rays Important?

In order to diagnose a variety of different oral health issues and determine the best treatments to meet your specific needs, we need to be able to see all of the components in your mouth. While there are many structures of your mouth that we can see, there are also many we cannot. X-rays allow us to see the spaces between your teeth, the roots of your teeth, your jawbone, and more. With X-rays, we can see a number of different things, including:

•	Decay and cavities between your teeth.
•	Damage to your teeth below the gum line, such as root fractures. This can help us to determine the need for extractions.
•	Fractures in your jawbone.
•	Bone loss. When determining your candidacy for dental implants, we need to ensure that you have sufficient bone mass, or if you need a bone graft first.
•	Abscesses and cysts.
•	Impacted wisdom teeth.
•	Impacted canines.

What are Digital X-Rays?

Digital X-rays are images of your mouth that show us hidden areas in your mouth. Where traditional X-rays rely on radiation to capture these images, digital X-rays use electronics to achieve this goal. To take a digital X-ray, a digital sensor is placed in your mouth. This sensor is attached to a computer. With the click of a button, we can capture your images, adjusting the sensor as needed. The images we take are displayed almost immediately on a computer monitor, ready for reading. This is a vast improvement over traditional X-ray technology, where images needed to be developed in a separate darkroom. Digital X-rays allow us to remain with you throughout your entire appointment.

The Benefits of Digital X-Rays

Digital X-rays provide several significant benefits.

•	Your images are displayed almost instantly after we take them. There is no need for us to develop them in a separate room, which takes time away from your appointment.
•	We can provide you with more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatment plans. Specialized software allows us to zoom in on specific parts of your images and enhance them for a clearer view. This allows us to see every detail of your mouth. Digital X-rays can also help us to determine optimal implant placement.
•	Because we do not need to take the time to develop your images, we can spend more time with you. We can take the time to ensure that you understand your diagnosis and your treatment options.
•	Your exposure to radiation is reduced up to 95%.

With digital X-rays, we can diagnose a wide array of different oral health issues and determine the best treatments for you. For more information on digital X-rays, call Madison Oral Surgery & Dental Implants today at (608) 960-7650.