At Silver Creek Family Dentistry, your health, comfort, and safety are always our top priorities. That is why we use digital x-ray technology to capture high-quality images quickly and safely during your dental visits. Digital x-rays offer a faster, more comfortable experience while exposing you to significantly less radiation compared to traditional film x-rays.
Our Butte dental team is proud to incorporate this advanced technology to improve diagnostic accuracy, streamline your appointments, and ensure the highest standard of care.
David W.Just my usual 6 month cleaning and a set of X-rays. As usual, good to go away with clean teeth and scheduled future work/checkups
What Are Digital X-Rays?
Digital x-rays use electronic sensors to capture detailed images of your teeth, bones, and surrounding oral structures. These images are instantly available for review on a computer screen, allowing for faster diagnostics and better communication between you and your dentist.
Unlike traditional x-rays that rely on film development, digital x-rays require no chemical processing and produce much clearer images in a fraction of the time.
Benefits of Digital X-Rays for Patients
Digital x-rays offer several important advantages over older imaging methods:
- Faster imaging with immediate results
- Up to 90 percent less radiation exposure compared to traditional x-rays
- Enhanced image quality for better diagnosis and treatment planning
- Easier communication through real-time visual explanations
- Environmentally friendly with no chemicals or waste
Because digital images can be enlarged and enhanced, they allow your dentist to detect even the smallest issues–such as early cavities, bone loss, or hidden infections–before they become major problems.
Why Low Radiation Matters
Patient safety is a major focus at Silver Creek Family Dentistry. While dental x-rays have always involved very low levels of radiation, digital x-rays reduce that exposure even further.
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), digital dental x-rays expose patients to about one-tenth of the radiation of traditional film-based methods. This makes them a safe and important tool for preventive care, early diagnosis, and treatment planning across all age groups.
What Conditions Can Digital X-Rays Detect?
Digital x-rays allow our team to diagnose a wide variety of oral health issues, including:
- Tooth decay between teeth
- Bone loss due to gum disease
- Abscesses, cysts, or tumors
- Impacted teeth, such as wisdom teeth
- Infections in the tooth root
- Problems with jaw alignment or joint health (TMJ)
Early detection leads to earlier intervention, which typically means simpler, more affordable treatments and better outcomes for patients.
How Often Are Dental X-Rays Needed?
The frequency of dental x-rays depends on your oral health history, risk factors, and current symptoms. For many patients, bitewing x-rays are recommended once a year to monitor changes and catch any developing problems early. Some individuals may need x-rays more often if they are undergoing restorative treatment, orthodontic planning, or monitoring for specific conditions.
At Silver Creek Family Dentistry, we customize x-ray schedules based on your individual needs to ensure safe, effective care without unnecessary exposure.
Experience the Advantages of Digital X-Rays in Butte, MT
Choosing a dental practice that uses digital technology means choosing faster, safer, and more accurate care. At Silver Creek Family Dentistry, we are proud to offer digital x-rays as part of our commitment to providing the best modern dentistry to families in Butte and surrounding areas.
If you are ready for a dental experience that prioritizes your health, safety, and comfort, contact us today to schedule your visit.
