Digital X-ray
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Increasingly used in dental radiography, digital X-ray systems use normal X-ray but new types of sensors (the part inside the mouth that detects the X-rays), instead of the photographic film used in traditional system. Advantages are fast (no developing needed) and digital (can be emailed, compared, enhanced, etc.).
One type of system uses a passive (non-electronic) sensor based on fluorescence that is placed in a scanner after the X-ray. These PSP (phosphor plates) are exposed to x-rays and then scanned with the aid of a helium or neon laser. The digitized images are stored and displayed on the computer screen. The other type uses an electronic sensor based on CCD (or more recently CMOS) chip technology. Schick Technologies was the first to explore and adopt the use of CMOS. Competitors followed their example as the CMOS chip provides many advantages in durability and lower power consumption. Schick was able to use CMOS, and their technology lead, to bring the first and only wireless digital xray sensor.
Capable of higher resolution, are the systems that use active, CCD-based or CMOS- based sensors. These require a cord coming out through the patient's lips, but are even more instant, much higher resolution, typically in the 12-25 lines per millimeter ranges. LPM (lines per millimeter) is generally not an accurate measure of performance, only results of a lab test that may be erroneously used for comparison purposes.
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Although now a wireless sensor is available that use CMOS technology
