Digital radiography is an important and invaluable tool for all dentists. At Latchford and Latchford, we offer 3 different types of radiography:

Intra Oral x-rays
Intra oral films have traditionally been used as part of normal dental practice.

The film is similar to photographic film and is sensitive to x-rays.

The digital system uses small sensor plates instead of film (they are the same size as a standard x-ray film). These plates detect the x-rays and are read by a computer. The image is displayed, almost instantaneously, on the computer screen. The image can then be viewed on the computer in any Surgery, or over the internet.

The data is digitally archived at the Practice and backed up each night.

OPG (Orthopantography)

This technique has been an important diagnostic tool for dentists for a long time. Digital acquisition of this type of x-ray image has a number of advantages:- lower radiation dose; improved resolution with large amounts of information, and digital archiving.

CT Scans
CT scanners were developed in the 1970’s and have become a cornerstone in diagnostic medical imaging. Cone beam CT scanners use the latest technology to produce high quality images at a relatively low radiation dose.

Dental CT Scans produce detailed 2D and 3D images using advanced computer software to analyse the x-ray data. This enables the Dentist to effectively plan implant surgery or other interventional treatments.

The radiation dose for a CT scan varies from patient to patient but is typically in the range of 0.1 to 0.5mSv. The natural background dose in the UK is approximately 2.2mSv annually. So a cone beam CT scan represents usually only 8 to 12 weeks of normal background radiation.