“Every picture tells a story.” –Rod Stewart
When it comes to treating young patients, Dr. Joshua Solomon says storytelling is important. Think about reading a book to a child; oftentimes, it is the pictures that most resonate with them. The same can be said for dental X-rays.
As a pediatric dentist whose practice sees up to 70 children per day, Dr. Josh says that Schick 33 sensors offer better quality and are faster than ever as a result of their cutting-edge digital technology. With Schick 33, he and his staff at Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics of Livermore can show parents exceptional images, and diagnose caries in kids faster, better, safer and easier than traditional X-rays.
The Right Fit for the Right Image
Dr. Josh says it’s important to have a variety of sensor sizes on hand. The Schick 33 digital intraoral sensor comes in three sizes: 0, 1 and 2. On primary anterior teeth, a size 2 sensor is used. For kids under six years old, the office uses size 0 for bitewing x-rays. After permanent first molars are in at six to seven years old, a size 1 is utilized. If second molars have erupted at twelve to thirteen years old, a size 2 is used. This is a general guideline but Dr. Josh feels that each child has different needs based on their cooperation level, size of their mouth and presence of a strong gag reflex.
“Having the right size according to the child’s age and the teeth you are trying to examine is critical,” he explains. “Otherwise, you won’t get the quality of images you need, and could end up having to take extra images. With the right sensor size, you can get an image right the first time—easily, safely, quickly and comfortably. “
Improve Diagnostics
Digital radiography makes it easier for Dr. Josh and his staff to diagnose caries and recommend treatment because the images have such high resolution. The Schick 33’s software offers the ability to sharpen images for even more clarity so that Dr. Josh and his staff can clearly pinpoint the area they want to highlight. The sensor has a clinical-specific mapping feature that automatically defaults to presets specific to diagnostic needs, including general dentistry, endodontics, periodontics or restorative dentistry.
“Not only do digital X-rays improve the diagnostic ability for the dentist, but—even more importantly—they show parents exactly what caries and gradation look like. And when they can see the progression of decay, they can understand it,” Dr. Josh says. “The image quality is absolutely phenomenal—I can see the outline of caries and not just a barely discernible black shadow, which is how it appears on traditional film.”
Save Time
Taking and processing a film X-ray used to take about 10 minutes, but with digital radiography, the staff can get an image in seconds. The entire process is much less cumbersome, which means staff can spend more time with patients.
“One of the greatest things about digital radiography is you can take images and see them immediately. Without any time constraints to develop film, we have the flexibility to take x-rays before or after their cleaning, which isn’t the case with standard x-rays,” says Dr. Josh. “When you’re working with kids, these are substantial benefits.”
Having the most innovative and effective approaches to patient care helps Dr. Josh’s team to better examine and treat patients. Digital X-rays are safer, faster, and help Dr. Josh and staff better communicate with parents and patients
