Dental clinic converts to digital X-ray system Published April 15, 2009 By Master Sgt. James Bunce 81st Dental Squadron KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, BILOXI, MISS. -- The 81st Dental Squadron Clinic has replaced its old X-rays with a state-of-the-art digital system. X-ray images, also called dental radiographs, are a primary tool a dentist uses to keep a patient's mouth and teeth healthy. In the past year, the 81st Dental Squadron has taken and developed more than 47,000 X-rays using about 1,900 liters of chemicals. The traditional, or wet film, X-rays took five to seven minutes to develop, or roughly 4,700 hours of processing time per year. In 2006, the Air Force Dental Service launched an initiative to bring all Air Force dental clinics into the digital X-ray image age. The process of taking and developing traditional wet film X-rays has been replaced by a dental X-ray sensor and computer with many positive effects. For example, digital X-ray production eliminates the use of noxious pollutant chemicals to develop film, an environmental plus. The old film was housed in a plastic sleeve with a lead backing. Eliminating this use of lead also reduces environment impact. The staff can take digital X-rays with significantly less radiation exposure than traditional X-rays. Digital radiology also improves the efficiency and convenience of dental appointments. The digital film or sensors look much like the old film with one exception -- the USB cable extending from the sensor to the computer. Once the sensor is exposed to a much lower level of radiation, a computer software program captures the image which is viewed on a monitor. While radiation doses from traditional dental X-ray film weren't considered dangerous to the patient, digital dental radiographs produce a high-quality image while reducing at radiation exposure by 90 percent. The greatest advantage of the direct sensor system is the time saved. The image appears directly on the dentist's computer monitor within seconds. The picture can then be enhanced and manipulated as well as shared with other dental providers to assist in diagnosis and treatment of dental diseases. Once an X-ray is taken, it's archived locally in a patient database. Eventually, bases will be linked to a central repository so X-rays can be available to Air Force dentists worldwide. However, until that capability is established, X-rays taken at Keesler will be copied to a CD-ROM for patients who PCS or retire.