Dentists meet Digital

In this article, dental offices across the nation are moving from traditional x-ray films to digital films. These are more efficient and less of a hassle to patients. However, the cost for these machines are astronomically expensive. A machine like these can rage from $10,000 to $25,000 dollars. Nonetheless, the cost to maintain and extra equipment is less which balances out the costs.

I have worked at a dental office for many years and they had a digital x-ray machine. They are very effective and gives more information then a regular x-ray would. Better treatment plans and diagnosis done to help patients.

What alarmed me was how the cost of a machine like this was nowadays. Considering how technology continues to change and move forward, the cost of these machines should be becoming lower. Also, I have known that the equipment in a dental office are unbelievably expensive, however, when you put everything together and add up everything the cost will be just as expensive as going to dental school. What I felt was missing was why aren't these machines being made readily available to more practices. If these machines help treating and catching problems quicker and better, manufacturers should be making these machines available to everyone.

What will it take to lower the prices of these machines? Especially in areas that have a community with a lower income, dentist there should be able to have access to these machines to help treat patients.