An extra oral dental imaging apparatus for obtaining an image from a patient, the apparatus comprising: a radiation source; a digital imaging sensor configured to provide, for each of a plurality of image pixels, a first lowest energy value according to a count of received photons of ionizing radiation energy that exceed at least a first lowest energy value threshold; a mount configured to support the radiation source and the digital imaging sensor on opposite sides with respect to the patient's head; a computer in signal communication with the digital imaging sensor for acquiring one or more two-dimensional images; and a controller electrically coupled to the radiation source, the digital imaging sensor, the mount and the computer, the controller configured to operate the dental imaging apparatus in at least one imaging mode; wherein the digital imaging sensor further provides, for each of the plurality of image pixels, a second energy value obtained from a count of photons of ionizing radiation energy that exceed a second energy value threshold that is greater than the first lowest energy value threshold, wherein the digital imaging sensor further provides an upper threshold that is greater than the second energy value threshold, wherein the first lowest energy value is according to the count of received photons of ionizing radiation energy that both exceeds the first lowest energy value threshold and are less than the upper threshold, and wherein the second energy value is according to the count of received photons of ionizing radiation energy that both exceed the second energy value threshold and are less than the upper threshold. a radiation source; a digital imaging sensor configured to provide, for each of a plurality of image pixels, a first lowest energy value according to a count of received photons of ionizing radiation energy that exceed at least a first lowest energy value threshold; a mount configured to support the radiation source and the digital imaging sensor on opposite sides with respect to the patient's head; a computer in signal communication with the digital imaging sensor for acquiring one or more two-dimensional images; and a controller electrically coupled to the radiation source, the digital imaging sensor, the mount and the computer, the controller configured to operate the dental imaging apparatus in at least one imaging mode; wherein the digital imaging sensor further provides, for each of the plurality of image pixels, a second energy value obtained from a count of photons of ionizing radiation energy that exceed a second energy value threshold that is greater than the first lowest energy value threshold, wherein the digital imaging sensor further provides an upper threshold that is greater than the second energy value threshold, wherein the first lowest energy value is according to the count of received photons of ionizing radiation energy that both exceeds the first lowest energy value threshold and are less than the upper threshold, and wherein the second energy value is according to the count of received photons of ionizing radiation energy that both exceed the second energy value threshold and are less than the upper threshold.