Digital X-rays save on removal costs. But the biggest plus of the new tools is patient education, Plack said. Intraoral cameras , which can be used in conjunction with a computer or with a television monitor, take a picture of the outside of the tooth. This is especially beneficial for patients who may be suspicious or resentful of recommendations their dentists give them, especially if they don't feel any immediate pain. The digital method also saves time for dentists who need to make several X-rays.
Photos are easy to re-take and patients no longer have to wait for the film to develop.
The X-rays are easily printed, duplicated, and sent to insurance companies that demand them. Patients also benefit from technology such as periocharting, which records the depths of pockets between the tooth and gums. The process utilizes voice recognition software that records the dentist's observations about each tooth and stores it in the computer. Exchange of information between dental professionals is also becoming easier with technology. Dr. Steve Brattesani, a San Francisco dentist and an inventor of new dental products himself, is in the process of setting up videoconferences with an oral surgeon and endodonist to pre-screen patients for certain procedures, saving consultation fees for patients.