Digital Imaging and Dental Radiography | Term elaborations
Analog image *** Radiographic image produced by conventional film.
Analog-to-digital converter *** Method used to convert data elements acquired by the
sensor are communicated to the computer in analog form and then converted into digital
form.
Bit-depth image *** Number of possible gray-scale combinations for each pixel (e.g., 8
bit-depth image has gray-scale combination of 28, which equals 256 shades of gray).
Charge-coupled device (CCD) *** Solid-state silicon chip detector that converts light
or x-ray photons into an electrical charge or signal; in digital imaging, CCD is found in
the sensor.
Digital imaging *** Filmless imaging system; a method of capturing an image using a
sensor, breaking it into electronic pieces, and presenting and storing the image using a
computer and related imaging software.
Digital image *** An image composed of pixels that can be stored in a computer.
Digital subtraction *** One feature of digital imaging; a method of reversing the gray
scale as an image is viewed; radiolucent images (normally black) appear white, and
radiopaque images (normally white) appear black.
, Digitize *** In digital imaging, to convert an image into a digital form that, in turn, can
be processed by a computer.
Direct digital imaging *** Method of obtaining a digital image, in which an intraoral
sensor is exposed to x-radiation to capture a dental image that can be viewed on a
computer monitor.
Indirect digital imaging *** Method of obtaining a digital image, in which a sensor is
scanned after exposure to x-radiation and then converted into a digital form that can be
viewed on a computer monitor.
Line pairs/millimeter (lp/mm) *** Measurement used to evaluate the ability of the
computer to capture the resolution (or detail) of an image.
Pixel *** A discrete unit of information. In digital electronic images, digital information
is contained in, and presented as, discrete units of information; also termed picture
element.
Sensor *** In digital imaging, a receptor that is used to capture an intraoral or
extraoral image.
Analog image *** Radiographic image produced by conventional film.
Analog-to-digital converter *** Method used to convert data elements acquired by the
sensor are communicated to the computer in analog form and then converted into digital
form.
Bit-depth image *** Number of possible gray-scale combinations for each pixel (e.g., 8
bit-depth image has gray-scale combination of 28, which equals 256 shades of gray).
Charge-coupled device (CCD) *** Solid-state silicon chip detector that converts light
or x-ray photons into an electrical charge or signal; in digital imaging, CCD is found in
the sensor.
Digital imaging *** Filmless imaging system; a method of capturing an image using a
sensor, breaking it into electronic pieces, and presenting and storing the image using a
computer and related imaging software.
Digital image *** An image composed of pixels that can be stored in a computer.
Digital subtraction *** One feature of digital imaging; a method of reversing the gray
scale as an image is viewed; radiolucent images (normally black) appear white, and
radiopaque images (normally white) appear black.
, Digitize *** In digital imaging, to convert an image into a digital form that, in turn, can
be processed by a computer.
Direct digital imaging *** Method of obtaining a digital image, in which an intraoral
sensor is exposed to x-radiation to capture a dental image that can be viewed on a
computer monitor.
Indirect digital imaging *** Method of obtaining a digital image, in which a sensor is
scanned after exposure to x-radiation and then converted into a digital form that can be
viewed on a computer monitor.
Line pairs/millimeter (lp/mm) *** Measurement used to evaluate the ability of the
computer to capture the resolution (or detail) of an image.
Pixel *** A discrete unit of information. In digital electronic images, digital information
is contained in, and presented as, discrete units of information; also termed picture
element.
Sensor *** In digital imaging, a receptor that is used to capture an intraoral or
extraoral image.
