Dental digital imagery no longer a dream Published Feb. 15, 2007 By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Isom 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- "That's so dial-up" is often heard when referring to outdated technology. Across the Air Force many customer-based processes are becoming streamlined with the most current hi-tech advances. Incorporating the newest technological advances into our everyday lives is no longer surprising, it's expected. The 82nd Dental Clinic and 381st Training Squadron are no longer "dial-up" with its latest transition to digital radiology. The innovative equipment was installed Dec. 6 and they went fully "digital" within one week. "Sheppard was originally scheduled for implementation later in 2007, but the Air Force Dental Technology Board moved up our date so the digital radiography equipment could be installed at the schoolhouse as well," said Capt. Mark Roberts, the officer in charge of radiology and staff endodontist. "As more bases deploy the new digital radiography equipment, it was imperative that our graduating dental technicians have training in digital radiography before reaching their first assignment." Captain Roberts said with digital radiography, the image is captured with a digital sensor connected to a computer through a universal serial bus port and the image is immediately viewable on the monitor. "Digital radiography saves our clinic time because it eliminates the processing time required for regular film," Captain Roberts said. "Digital radiographs are exposed with more than five times less radiation than film, which makes it safer for our patients and staff." Implementing digital radiography is also safer for the environment since it decreases the amount of hazardous waste associated with film X-rays, said Master Sgt. Rita Fraley, the dental support flight NCO in charge. The dental clinic staff is not the only group to benefit from this new process. "When members make a permanent change of station, their digital X-rays will be provided on a disk in their dental records," Sergeant Fraley said. She added that an additional benefit for the patients is that the digital images can be sent anywhere in the world via e-mail. So far the feedback for this new system has been very positive. Staff Sgt. Christopher Shaw, the NCOIC of dental radiology, said the new process is "... a lot easier and a lot smoother. It shaves about 15 minutes off the old process." Sergeant Fraley said the Air Force plans on transitioning to digital radiography at a cost of $30 million by 2008. "All of the Air Force dental clinics have been funded and are on a schedule to have digital radiography equipment installed over the next one to two years," Captain Roberts said. "In the next six months, the central storage server will go online. This will enable images to be immediately available for download at any Air Force dental clinic when a member PCSs or is deployed."