1School of Dental Sciences, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India
2Subharti Dental College, Meerut, India
3Department of Orthodontics, Subharti Dental College, Meerut, India
*Correspondence Address: Dr Namita Katyal School Of Dental Sciences Sharda University Greater Noida U.P., India
Online published on 12 June, 2012.
Digital radiography has been used widely in medicine, but it was only in the 1980s that the first intra-oral sensors were developed for use in dentistry. Unfortunately, the early systems could not capture panoramic and cephalometric images, and this made it impossible for surgeries to abandon film processing and adopt digital technology. Recently, the development of cost-effective intra- and extra-oral digital technology coupled with an increase in computerization of practices has made digital imaging a superior alternative in many respects to conventional film imaging. Advantages of this type of system include the ability to gain cephalometric analysis and superimposition quickly on the chairside computer, manipulation of images to aid diagnosis, dose reductions, and the ease of storage. This article aims to introduce the basic principles behind digital radiography and also to discuss some problems, such as set-up costs and cross-infection control issues that can affect the systems currently available.
