X-ray Characteristics and Dental X-ray Machines
X-rays have unique characteristics that make them both useful and potentially dangerous. They're invisible and undetectable by human senses, have no mass or weight, and travel at the speed of light in straight lines. X-rays can penetrate matter, cause ionization, make certain substances fluoresce, and produce images on photographic film.
Like visible light, radio waves, and microwaves, X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation made up of photons that travel through space. The shorter the wavelength, the greater the energy and penetrating power. Dental X-rays use short wavelengths that can pass through soft tissue but are partially blocked by denser materials like teeth and bone.
Every dental X-ray machine has three primary components: the tubehead whichproducestheX−rays, an extension arm (for positioning), and a control panel (for adjusting settings). Though machines may vary in appearance, these basic components work together to create diagnostic images.
Clinical Connection: When X-rays pass through your mouth during a dental exam, they're absorbed differently by different structures. Teeth, fillings, and bone appear white on the image because they block most X-rays, while cavities and gum infections appear darker because X-rays pass through more easily.