Dental X Rays

Re: Dental X Rays

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:30:15 GMT

[quote user="Mark Holmes"]It's the developing that's the problem. We used to have self developing film which was great now we are using the stuff that goes through the processor and they are hopeless. Positioning is no bother you just cannot read the damn things.

[/quote]

I'm intrigued and a bit puzzled. What actual films are you using? What make is the processor? What chemicals? What do the films look like after processing?

Re: Dental X Rays

Mark Holmes — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 07:38:39 GMT

It's the developing that's the problem. We used to have self developing film which was great now we are using the stuff that goes through the processor and they are hopeless. Positioning is no bother you just cannot read the damn things.

Re: Dental X Rays

Rachel Perry — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 23:00:06 GMT

[quote user="Mark Holmes"]Can you get sufficient information from a couple of oblique skull X-rays. We have a dental machine, but I can never get a good picture. The exposure always seems wrong and a couple of oblique skull pictures always seems quicker, easier and has the benefit of getting the whole lot in two takes.

[/quote]

Unfortunately there is so much superimposition on skull radiographs that they will never give you the information you'll see on intra-oral dental rads. You will miss a lot of pathology. Mostly what I can tell from skull radiographs (regarding teeth) is what species it is and whether or not there are teeth there. Intra-oral radiographs can be challenging at first, but with practice you can get full mouth radiographs within a few minutes.

Re: Dental X Rays

Mark Holmes — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 22:01:34 GMT

Can you get sufficient information from a couple of oblique skull X-rays. We have a dental machine, but I can never get a good picture. The exposure always seems wrong and a couple of oblique skull pictures always seems quicker, easier and has the benefit of getting the whole lot in two takes.

Re: Dental X Rays

Rachel Perry — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 19:31:46 GMT

[quote user="Gerry Henry"]

Where would be the best place for a good second hand one rachel?

[/quote]

Try PLH Medical

Re: Dental X Rays

Bob Russell — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 16:23:58 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

[quote user="Rob Davis"] I use Kodak rapid chemicals in jam jars in the dark room, and films are ready to view in less than one minute.[/quote]

I think you can still get a "chairside developer" – essentially a box with hand holes, with three jam jars inside. You could make your own.

[/quote]

I am sure we have one up in our loft if anyone is interested and near the New Forest! We very quickly upgraded to an automatic processor but found this more of a pain to maintain. that one is probably destined to end up in the loft as well if I can be persuaded by Photon to go digital with our dental X-rays as well as general ones!

Re: Dental X Rays

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 15:10:51 GMT

When examining a dental film on a light box, look at it down a cardboard tube about 10 or 12 inches long, about 1and 3/4 or 2 inches diameter. You will see the detail much more clearly. Something to do with the physiology of human vision.

Re: Dental X Rays

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 15:05:30 GMT

[quote user="Rob Davis"] I use Kodak rapid chemicals in jam jars in the dark room, and films are ready to view in less than one minute.[/quote]

I think you can still get a "chairside developer" – essentially a box with hand holes, with three jam jars inside. You could make your own.

Re: Dental X Rays

Rob Davis — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:54:15 GMT

[quote user="KathW"]

Thanks for the advice. I'll mention it to "the boss". Don't think it'll count as being as "s*xy" and "exciting" as the singing and dancing new digital set up (that probably isn;t all paid for yet) though!

Maybe a CPD update and and bit more knowledge had better come first.

[/quote]

The only way to get good at dental radiography is to practice - it's not difficult but it does take a little while to get it consistently right. I started out using our fixed head standard x-ray machine. As others have mentioned it's a pain. The only way I could get the film-focal distance short enough was to take our operating table into the x-ray room, pump it up to maximun height and then faff about positioning the patient with wedges and sand bags and moving the table around the room. Having done this for a few months, it all seemed so easy when we bought a proper dental x-ray machine.

The problem with the self developing films is that they only come in one size (size 2 I think). I use Kodak rapid chemicals in jam jars in the dark room, and films are ready to view in less than one minute.

Our dental x-ray machine was around $1500 new and paid for itself very quickly. Go for it!

Re: Dental X Rays

KathW — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 09:17:09 GMT

Maybe a CPD update and and bit more knowledge had better come first.

Re: Dental X Rays

Gerry Henry — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 18:49:07 GMT

Where would be the best place for a good second hand one rachel?

Re: Dental X Rays

Rachel Perry — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 14:23:06 GMT

Yes you can use it- you just need a source of X-rays. The downside is you'll have to move your patient into that room for an X-ray, then position animal in exactly the right place. Do-able with fixed head machine but a faff. You can get self developing film, or normal dental film plus small chairside developer, or a digital sensor. To be honest unless you're super keen, this will be such a pain it'll put you off. Better to invest in a specific dental X-ray machine. You can get re-conditioned units for under £1000 and self developing films £1 each. Once you're confident, you could get a digital sensor for £3-4000.

Re: Dental X Rays

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 14:18:29 GMT

[quote user="KathW"]We now have a digital xray (sorry I can't remember which type) and I've been told the head can't be moved /angled. Can this be used for dental x rays[/quote]

Almost certainly, but you may need to apply a great deal of ingenuity!

[quote user="KathW"]Do we need a dental Xay unit and special dental film?[/quote]

If your practice can afford one of those hideously expensive all-in-one can't-angle-the head digital systems, I reckon it can lash out on a dental Xray unit and a dental digital system.