What makes a digital dental X-ray different from film?

Seeing your X-ray appear on a screen, often within seconds, can make you wonder what changed and whether it matters for your care or your radiation exposure. The main difference is how the image is recorded. Film needs chemical processing, while digital systems use an electronic sensor or a special plate to produce a computer image. Both use X-rays to capture information about your teeth and surrounding structures.¹ 

What you'll learn in this article: 

• How digital sensors and imaging plates differ from film 

• What a digital image can show, and what it can’t 

• Why radiation exposure depends on more than the word “digital” 

• What to expect if your previous dental X-rays were taken on film 

If you have questions about imaging, schedule an appointment with an Aspen Dental provider to discuss what your care may involve. 

How do film and digital dental X-rays work? 

With film, the dental team places a small packet inside your mouth to record the image. After exposure, the film has to be processed with chemicals before your dentist can view it.¹ 

Digital imaging replaces that film with a different type of image receptor. That's simply the part that records the X-ray information. Two common options work a little differently. 

Direct digital sensors 

An electronic sensor sends image information to a computer. The image can appear on the screen within seconds after exposure, without a separate film-development step.¹ This lets the team check the image quickly while you're still in the chair. 

Phosphor plates 

A phosphor plate stores the image after exposure. The team then puts the plate into a scanner that transfers the image to the computer. It avoids chemical film processing, but it does have a scanning step.¹ So a digital image doesn't always appear immediately. 

What can a dentist do with a digital X-ray? 

Your dentist views a digital X-ray on a screen, where software may help with image analysis.¹ Digital files can also be stored and shared electronically.² 

A screen can display what the X-ray captured, but it can’t show anything that wasn’t captured in the first place. For example, enlarging an image won’t reveal a tooth root that was outside the original picture. 

Image quality still matters, whatever the format. Careful positioning and well-maintained equipment help produce a useful image.¹^,²

If you're curious about the findings, ask your dentist to point them out. Understanding what dental X-rays can show can help you connect the image with the explanation of your treatment options. 

Do digital dental X-rays use less radiation? 

Digital imaging can reduce radiation exposure compared with film. But “digital” doesn't tell you the exact dose. Equipment settings and how the image is taken still matter. Increasing exposure to improve the appearance of a digital image can also increase the dose unnecessarily.² 

Both methods use ionizing radiation. The goal is useful images with the lowest reasonable exposure. Current recommendations favor digital imaging over conventional film, alongside measures such as limiting the beam to the area being examined and positioning patients carefully.² 

The decision to take an X-ray matters, too. Your dentist considers your oral health, symptoms and risk of disease when deciding which images are needed and when.² Having digital equipment isn't, by itself, a reason to take more images. 

What will you notice during the appointment? 

For an X-ray taken inside your mouth, the team will place a sensor, plate or film packet in position, often using a holder to keep it steady.¹ Ask the team what type of device they use. 

Tell the team if an edge presses painfully or the placement makes you gag. Ask whether they can adjust the positioning or give you a brief break. You don't need to stay quiet about discomfort just to get through the appointment. 

Does “digital dental X-ray” mean a 3D scan? 

No. Standard digital dental X-rays produce two-dimensional images. Cone-beam computed tomography produces three-dimensional images and is a different type of examination. The choice depends on what your dentist needs to assess.² 

To discuss your imaging history or questions about your next visit, schedule an examination with your local dental provider. 

What makes a digital dental X-ray different from film? FAQs 

Can I transfer my existing X-rays to a new dentist? 

Ask your previous office to arrange a copy for your new provider. Digital files can be shared electronically, and the office can tell you how film images are handled.² Request the images before your appointment when possible, and ask the receiving office which format it can use. 

Will switching offices mean I need new X-rays? 

Not necessarily. Your new dentist should consider available previous images before ordering more.² Tell the office when and where your last X-rays were taken. The team can review them and explain whether additional images are needed for your current care. 

Are older film X-rays still worth keeping? 

Often, yes. Previous images can help your dentist avoid repeating an X-ray, so share them with your care team rather than assuming they’re no longer useful because they’re on film.² Ask whether they’re clear enough and relevant to your current care. You can also ask the office how to store or transfer them without damaging them. 

Sources 

¹ U.S. Food and Drug Administration: “The Selection of Patients for Dental Radiographic Examinations.” https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/medical-x-ray-imaging/selection-patients-dental-radiographic-examinations 

² American Dental Association: “X-Rays/Radiographs.”  https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/x-rays-radiographs