It's official, Kodak is selling its film business.

[Diapositivo]

Last year I switched dentist. My former dentist - a very good one but not near where I live - used a traditional X-Ray machine. He developed the tiny film in a machine which he had in the studio itself. He inserted his hands in some sort of light-tight bellow and made the "baths" in there. In less than 5 minutes, IIRC, the X-ray was ready for the light board. He didn't have an orthopanoramic X-Ray machine, just the normal one which can take pictures of 1, or 2, maybe 3 teeth. The entire process was I'd say very fast and practical.

My present dentist - near where I live, I walk to its practice - is a technology geek. He's got a digital X-Ray and he's got a laser drill as well (that's impressive. Star Wars on your molar). When I asked him why did he install a digital X-Ray machine IIRC he answered digital was faster and more practical and maybe he added digital requires a lesser dose of X-ray.

In hospital practice I suppose digital X-ray is practical because the patient file is now mainly digital. A digital X-ray "matches" with a digital TAC or a digital echography and all the other information. Saves cabinet space and makes all patient file more transmissible. I presume they can also be faked easily in case of judiciary enquiry

[RattyMouse]

That's another good point. Lower doses of radiation. That alone is enough for me to avoid traditional X-rays.

[dnjl]

A friend of mine is studying radiology; they're taught the analogue way and do everything with traditional x-ray film. We don't live in a developing country either.

[RattyMouse]

A friend of mine is studying radiology; they're taught the analogue way and do everything with traditional x-ray film. We don't live in a developing country either.

Shanghai China, where I live, has digital X-Rays.

[Rafal Lukawiecki]

@Simon Galley from Ilford:

If I promise to buy more HP5+, will you buy Kodak for us, please?

[BrianShaw]

Agreed.

It is simply about reaching the needed threshold for the job at hand.

One of the biggest problems of many systems for me, is that there is too many ways to manipulate data and more detail than necessary becomes required input. I'm not being specific to photography but the logic applies there too.

My dentist converted to digital Xray... and he diagnosed a cracked tooth that he wouldn't have been able to with film due to the cool software manipulations. What's more, he could email the digital images (xray and intraoral digital pictures) to the insurance compnay for approval... making it possible to fix the problem before it got to a bigger problem. So what is the "needed threshold"? I totally agree, though, that sometimes the obvious threshold is exceeded just because it can be done. This is not the case with digital dentistry in my opinion, though. Digital dentistry seems to increase the quality of health care.

[Steve Smith]

In hospital practice I suppose digital X-ray is practical because the patient file is now mainly digital.

When I have my teeth photographed by traditional X-ray, the dental nurse processes the film and has it scanned in a matter of minutes. I get to see it on the computer screen whilst still sitting in the chair. And they get to save it in a digital file with all of my other data.

What's more, he could email the digital images (xray and intraoral digital pictures) to the insurance compnay for approval.

Luckilly, we don't have to bother with that nonsense!

And I must post a link to this from The Simpsons before someone else does: http://deadhomersociety.files.wordpr...humb.png?w=582


Steve.

[BrianShaw]

... so can they do software "enhancements" to that scanned image?

[RattyMouse]

When I have my teeth photographed by traditional X-ray, the dental nurse processes the film and has it scanned in a matter of minutes. I get to see it on the computer screen whilst still sitting in the chair. And they get to save it in a digital file with all of my other data.



Luckilly, we don't have to bother with that nonsense!

And I must post a link to this from The Simpsons before someone else does: http://deadhomersociety.files.wordpr...humb.png?w=582


Steve.

There are people alive because of the advances in X-rays due to it going digital. You can be against progress all you want, but the time may come when you will quickly backpedal and demand a digital image so that your doctor has the best information available.

[Diapositivo]

And I must post a link to this from The Simpsons before someone else does: http://deadhomersociety.files.wordpr...humb.png?w=582

I also feel tempted to post a very famous X-ray which was certainly taken during the analogue age. Very famous.