Digital Radiography improves dental experience for Travis Airmen

  • Published
  • 60th Dental Squadron
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Since you childhood, many have had an unfounded fear of going to the dentist. If it wasn't the sound of teeth being drilled, it was that awful aftertaste left by the paper and film X-rays during the dentist's examination. 

Now, that's all changing. An initiative to incorporate digital radiography into every dental clinic in the Air Force has arrived at the David Grant USAF Medical Center. Started in 2007, the implementation of digital radiology now includes a $900,000 upgrade to the 60th Dental Squadron's Arthur J. Sachsel Dental Clinic as the 37th of 80 dental clinics upgraded to date. 

Digital radiology is a form of X-ray imaging, where digital X-ray sensors are used instead of traditional photographic film. The upgrading of X-ray techniques to state-of-the-art digital technology at DGMC offers many benefits to both the patient and the provider. The time required for viewing each film will be significantly decreased as the digital image quickly appears on the computer screen. The process of developing the film similar to a photograph is also eliminated, and less radiation can be used to produce an image of similar contrast to conventional radiography. 

"I used to take the X-rays and ask the patient to wait for up to eight minutes," said Tech. Sgt. Paul Miller, 60th DS NCOIC of Dental Radiology. "The film had to pass through the developer before I could review the quality of the X-ray," Sergeant Miller explained. "Now, a radiographic image can be observed within three seconds and this image can be stored and accessed by any provider." 

"The use of digital radiography at DGMC is the most significant technological change to the care we provide our patients that the dental service has seen in many years," said Col. Barbara King, 60th DS commander. According to Colonel King, the majority of X-ray images will be captured right in the dental treatment room, making the patient visit as efficient as possible. 

"Digital radiography incorporates the use of a sensor which requires much less radiation exposure to create an image" Capt. Jeremy Bruner, 60th DS OIC of Dental Radiology, explained. "With the exposure time reduced, the radiation dose per exposure also decreases by nearly 50 percent."

According to Capt. Bruner, the exposure from radiographic equipment is measured in units of milligray. The digital X-ray sensor captures an image near the 25mGy x cm2 to 50mGy x cm2 range compared to that of a conventional film, which exposes the patient to a value of 75mGy x cm2 to 100mGy x cm2. The decrease in radiation exposure translates to an increase in patient safety. This change in radiation exposure is considerable when taking a full-mouth series of X-rays that is normally 16 views. 

Diagnostic and treatment planning capability improves with digital radiography, allowing an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to reformat a three-dimensional representation of a patient's skull. Custom grafts or implants may then be fashioned to restore facial symmetry for reconstruction following trauma or cancer surgery. "By using a digitally generated skeletal model, we are better prepared for the operating room and come closer to restoring form and function," said Col. Richard Delo, 60th DS Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Flight commander. 

Overall, the implementation of digital radiography at DGMC will benefit the dental patient by improving the efficiency of the diagnostic process for the provider and increasing the level of safety with decreased radiologic exposure. It is truly a win-win situation - without the bitter aftertaste.