Digital X-Rays
Dental x-rays are an essential diagnostic tool that allows us to see what is happening inside your teeth and address problems long before we would see them during a visual exam.
However, we understand that many patients today are concerned about unnecessary radiation exposure. At the office of Trung Pham, DMD, your safety is of the utmost importance to us, so we’re proud to offer state-of-the-art digital x-rays. Digital x-rays expose you to about 70 percent less radiation and produce highly detailed images that are not possible with film x-rays.
Benefits of Using State-of-the-Art Digital X-Rays
Many common dental issues develop beneath the enamel or gum tissue. Routine digital x-rays allow us to identify these problems when they’re in the earliest stages. Addressing issues early on helps prevent discomfort and enables us to provide more conservative treatment than we would if the problem was allowed to advance.
One of the significant benefits of digital x-rays is reduced radiation exposure. However, there are other benefits as well:
- We store digital x-ray images directly into your patient record for quick access when reviewing your history and tracking certain conditions.
- Since we store your images digitally, we can easily send them to specialists and insurance providers when necessary.
- There are no harsh chemicals used to produce images, so digital x-rays are safer for the environment.
Using state-of-the-art equipment, we can project x-ray images directly on your chairside monitor so you can see what we see. We can make the image larger or smaller and zoom in so you can easily see the problem. Our team believes strongly in patient education, and when you can see what we see, you have the information to make confident decisions about treatment.
What We Look for with Digital X-Rays
There are several reasons why Dr. Pham recommends dental x-rays, but we will always explain why it's necessary.
Digital x-rays enable us to observe and diagnose problems in much greater detail than traditional film x-rays. Using bitewing x-rays, we can look for cavities between, plaque and tartar buildup above and below the gum line, and also look for signs of gum disease by checking the bone levels around your teeth.
Please Call to Arrange an Appointment
If you’re overdue for a dental exam and cleaning, please call San Jose dentist Dr. Trung Pham to arrange an appointment. We would love the opportunity to meet with you, listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and show you the ways that digital x-rays enhance your treatment.
Please call our dental office today at (408) 287-8880, and a friendly member of our team will be happy to help you arrange a dental appointment at your convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dental x-rays are an essential diagnostic tool that provides detailed images of the inside of your tooth that we can't see with a visual exam. Most dental problems start inside the teeth or under the gums, and x-rays allow us to identify and treat them long before they cause discomfort or compromise your oral health.
But we understand the concerns that our patients have about unnecessary exposure, so we use state-of-the-art digital x-rays. Some reasons we choose digital x-rays are:
- They reduce your radiation exposure by about 70 percent compared to film x-rays
- The images are available immediately, so you don’t have to wait for films to be developed
- The highly-detailed nature of the images allows us both to see problems in their earliest stages.
- We can manipulate the images and make them larger or smaller so you can see the problem in detail.
- Since the images are digital, we don't have to dispose of any harmful chemicals.
If you have a high risk of cavities, the American Dental Association recommends bitewing x-rays at least every 18 months. Those who care for their teeth and have no ongoing conditions can go two years or longer between x-rays. But only you and Dr. Pham can determine what the optimal frequency of x-rays is in your case.
You can be confident that your safety is of the utmost importance to us, and we will never recommend x-rays without explaining why they’re needed and what we can learn from them. If it’s time for your routine checkup or you have questions about digital x-rays, please call our San Jose dental office to arrange an appointment.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Trung Pham
A Bay Area native, Dr. Trung Pham has been practicing dentistry since 1997. After graduating from the University of Connecticut Dental School, he returned to the West Coast for a residency in Advanced Education in General Dentistry at the University of the Pacific in San Francisco. He was fortunate enough to spend the first decade of his dental career learning from mentors who are great clinicians and loved by their patients.
With an early solid foundation, Dr. Pham continues to work at building and improving his clinical skills as well as ...