Dental Radiography & Radiology
Dental radiography and radiology involves using a beam of energy to penetrate teeth and record these images on photographic film, according to "Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques." Dental radiographers are any members of a dental office team who are licensed/certified to perform this skill, such as dentists, dental hygienists or dental assistants. Professionals involved in dental radiography and radiology must master a variety of technical skills in addition to understanding background scientific knowledge related to X-rays.
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History
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X-radiation was discovered in 1895 after a Bavarian physicist named Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen experimented with cathode rays--streams of electrons--in a vacuum tube. He then placed his wife's hand on a photographic plate and exposed it to unknown rays for 15 minutes. After developing the plate, he could see the outlines of her hand's bones. Roentgen called the unknown rays "X-rays." An electrical engineer by the name of William Coolidge in 1913 created the first X-ray tube. Film packets and the first dental X-ray machine were later developed in the 1920s, setting the stage for the equipment used in contemporary dental offices.
Importance
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Dental radiography and radiology is important because dental radiographs allow dentists to diagnose cavities, lesions and other conditions they otherwise would not be able to detect during a regular clinical examination of a patient's teeth and oral tissues. Oral conditions that show up on an X-ray might include periodontal disease--the destruction of gums and bone around teeth--as well as trauma. Dental radiographs show missing teeth, impacted teeth or even extra teeth as well. In addition, endodontists--dentists who are trained to perform root canal therapy--heavily rely on dental radiographs during these procedures.
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Equipment
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When using dental X-ray equipment, dental radiographers must be able to locate and manipulate several machine parts such as the X-ray tubehead, extension arm and control panel. They also use film holders to stabilize intraoral dental film in patients' mouths. Dental radiographers should know the purposes of various types of dental film. For example, they should understand that bitewing film helps to detect cavities, while periapical film shows an entire tooth and its supporting bone. Dental radiographers also use extraoral film, such as panoramic film, to view large areas of the jaws or skull. These professionals additionally process X-ray film using various solutions and mount radiographs correctly for easy viewing.
Biology
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All ionizing radiations, which include X-rays, are harmful and can produce damage to living tissue. Irradiated individuals can be at risk for leukemia, cataracts or cancer. Radiation injuries in genetic cells also can affect the health of a person's offspring. For this reason, dental radiographers must practice safety when taking X-rays. This includes placing a lead apron over a dental X-ray patient and using a protective barrier between themselves and an X-ray beam to reduce their own exposure to radiation.
Education/Certification
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Licensed dentists and dental hygienists usually are not required to obtain additional certification to expose dental radiographs legally. However, dentists must complete at least eight years of school beyond high school, and dental hygienists typically complete two-year associate or four-year bachelor's degree programs in dental hygiene, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. Dental assistants usually complete one-year diploma or two-year associate degree programs in dental assisting, and some states require them to be specially certified to take X-rays.
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References
- Photo Credit dentist x-ray 01 image by Dragan Bombek from Fotolia.com
