Digital radiography and advanced imaging techniques in dentistry

Since the discovery of x-rays in 1895, film has been the primary medium for capturing, displaying and storing radiographic images. Digital or filmless radiography is slowly being adopted by the dental profession. Digital radiography offers a number of capabilities compared with conventional radiography, such as postprocessing, electronic archiving, concurrent access to images, and improved data distribution. Computer based applications which are used for quantitative measurements and evaluations on digital images for better user interpretation. New diagnostic imaging processes are improved connected with the technological progress of computer systems. Since the first clinical use of computed tomography (CT) scans in 1972, technological development has been rapid. Dental volumetric tomography (DVT), uniquely used for dentomaxillofacial imaging came to the market owing to recent rapid developments in digital radiology technology and is becoming more popular in dental applications. Low radiation dose cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) units that are commercially available at a lower cost than CT units, has performed valuable diagnostic information for dentists. [Archives Medical Review Journal 2013; 22(2.000): 230-238]