Re:The 'Irrational' Way Humans Interact With Dentists
by RK on Tuesday October 12, 2010 @08:40PM
(#1785570)
This is also important as digital x-rays use much less radiation
Actually the operative word should be can use much less radiation. Because the sensors are digital, the software will auto-compensate for exposure levels. A study at my university by the physicists in the radiology department showed that the x-ray techs were often using much higher exposure settings than necessary on the digital setups, but no one was noticing. On film, overexposure would make the images unreadable, and it would have been noticed immediately.
A question you need to ask your dentist is, "how often is your x-ray equipment calibrated?"
Granted, you're getting much less radiation exposure at the dentist's than at the doctor's office, unless you're getting dental CT's.
Actually the operative word should be can use much less radiation. Because the sensors are digital, the software will auto-compensate for exposure levels. A study at my university by the physicists in the radiology department showed that the x-ray techs were often using much higher exposure settings than necessary on the digital setups, but no one was noticing. On film, overexposure would make the images unreadable, and it would have been noticed immediately.
A question you need to ask your dentist is, "how often is your x-ray equipment calibrated?"
Granted, you're getting much less radiation exposure at the dentist's than at the doctor's office, unless you're getting dental CT's.