Dentaltown December 2015 - (Page 68)

practice solutions Practice Solutions explores how specific products and services can be of use clinically or in practice management. Diagnostic X-rays Three Factors That Contribute to Beautiful Results by James W. Ramey James W. Ramey received a computer programming undergraduate and MIS degree from the University of Akron. He is currently the managing director of the digital imaging division for DentiMax and has worked in the industry for more than 12 years. Ramey has personal experience with almost every digital sensor, panoramic unit and intraoral camera, and all types of digital photography. Ramey has been published numerous times in many of the industry's trade journals. He has provided consulting services to hundreds of dental practices. You may reach Ramey at jimramey70@gmail.com. 68 Clear and diagnostic X-rays are critical, important tools for you to successfully diagnose your patients and efficiently run your office. What factors produce that crystal clear image you want and need? While the sensor is important, it is not the only factor. Here are the three critical elements to keep in mind when considering investment in a new digital sensor. Resolution Sensor resolution is one of the first things to consider. Looking at the sensor's line-pair measurements (also known as resolution), you can measure the potential quality of the image it can produce. Line pairs are the main method by which a sensor's resolution is measured. There are two types of line pair measurements: actual and theoretical. The theoretical number is created through a mathematical calculation based on the pixel size of the sensor (in microns) and does have some subjectivity. A one-micron difference in pixel size could take a theoretical number from 26 to 33-quite a difference. The actual pair number is a more accurate measurement of a sensor's clarity. The actual number of line pairs per millimeter is what you can see with your naked eye, so the actual number is the number to which you should pay the most attention since you don't regularly use a microscope to diagnose your X-rays. DECEMBER 2015 // dentaltown.com Be careful to compare actual line-pair measurements between different sensors. In this case, the bigger the number, the better. Just don't compare one sensor's actual LPM to another sensor's theoretical LPM-this can cause confusion. Software The second factor to look at is software- critically important to getting the best images possible from your investment. Software applies tools and filters to the image before you see it on your monitor. If you looked at a digital sensor's image (no matter which manufacturer) that is completely raw, the image would be extremely blurry and completely unusable for diagnostics. The filters or enhancements applied to that raw image give the practitioner a diagnostic image on the screen after the X-ray is exposed. Most imaging software applications simply return the image one way, and in order to change the image that you see, you have to change your exposure time or use enhancement tools in the software post-capture- which takes up your valuable time. Other software applications have tools that can be manipulated so the image automatically looks exactly the way that you want to see it for optimal diagnostic quality. This image is specifically tailored for you. Usually, imaging software applications are free with a sensor purchase. But many of these software systems are closed-platform Continued on p. 70 http://www.dentaltown.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown December 2015

On Dentaltown.com
HOWARD SPEAKS: What Your Offi ce Manager Needs to Do Right Now
PROFESSIONAL COURTESY: What Grinds My Gears
Continuing Education Update
Industry News
Restoring Deep Cavity Preparations
How Do You Separate the Teeth for Band Fitting of Space Maintainer?
Oral Systemic Health and the Big Three
HR Compliance for Dentists: Three Costly Assumptions
Oral Ulcerations: A Brief Review
Debunking the Bleaching Myths
Practice Solutions: DentiMax
Are You Scared of Being Your Best? How to Face Your Fears and Grow Your Business
Planting Your Practice: How to Find the Ideal Spot
When the Patient Refuses Orthodontic Treatment
Pass It On: Generosity in the Business of Dentistry
Handling the Gagging Population
TOWNIE CHOICE AWARDS 2015 Townies Have Spoken!
Ad Index
You Should Know: Dental Fix Rx
Poll
CE: Radix Entomolaris: Treatment of a Mandibular First Molar with Distolingual Root
Dentally Incorrect

Dentaltown December 2015