This month, we take a closer look at the numbers behind handheld X-ray safety and share a simple way to streamline your imaging workflow with default sharpening settings—plus industry news, upcoming events, and more.
EXPERT INSIGHTS
The Truth About Handheld X-Ray Safety
Handheld dental X-ray devices have become a go-to well beyond their original purpose of remote clinicals, nursing homes, or forensic settings. Increasingly, they’re showing up in everyday dental offices too. The good news: used correctly, they're safe. Operators see exposure levels well under 1% of the annual occupational limit, thanks largely to a built-in backscatter shield. But because these devices are often used in open, unshielded environments rather than a controlled setup, technique matters more here than with fixed equipment. Proper positioning, including increased exposure time to compensate for their low mA output and the use of special modified XCP type sensor holders required by the ultra-short cones, along with awareness of local regulations, is what keeps convenience from ever becoming a compromise on safety. Source: Dimensions of Dental Hygiene, 2026
Exposure Levels
Operators average around 0.0453 mSv per year. That’s less than 1% of the 50 mSv occupational limit.
Technique
These devices carry some weight, and fatigue can affect proper angulation and accuracy over a long day. Two-handed stabilization and use of a neck strap helps keep positioning consistent.
Backscatter Shield
FDA-approved units require a non-removable backscatter shield with at least 0.25 mm lead-equivalent protection. This is the key barrier that keeps scatter radiation away from the operator.
Training Protocol
Only trained personnel should operate handheld units, and regulation vary by state or province.
CLINICAL INSIGHTS
Streamline Your XDR Software Workflow with Default Sharpening
Are you constantly adjusting your image sharpness or brightness manually after every single capture? You can easily shave valuable seconds off your chairside routine by saving your preferred sharpening defaults right inside our software’s Basic Settings. It takes less than a minute to set up, keeping your focus right where it belongs—on your patient. You can find step-by-step instructions in our Basic Sharpening Settings guide.
Settings are saved per computer, allowing every operatory to be customized to match exactly what that specific room's clinician or doctor prefers to see.
Enhance Contrast
Easily check boxes for "speckle reduction" and "default sharpen thumbnails".
Three Sharpening Levels
Select from three distinct sharpening levels in the "Sharp Options" to match your diagnostic preference.
Total Flexibility
These default settings do not permanently alter these images! You can still adjust any individual image at any time during a live exam or revert back to the original image.
The Community Health Center Association of Connecticut has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Delta Dental Foundation to assess dental assistant workforce shortages across the state. The initiative aims to identify solutions that strengthen the dental workforce and improve access to quality oral healthcare.
Looking for practical ways to improve your practice? In Closing the Loop: Operational Wisdom, Dr. Mark Costes shares strategies for strengthening patient communication, improving workflows, and creating a more efficient dental team. Discover actionable insights that can help enhance both the patient experience and day-to-day practice operations.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has named Dr. Homa Amini its 2026 Pediatric Dentist of the Year. The award celebrates her exceptional achievements in advancing pediatric dentistry through clinical excellence, academic leadership, and her longstanding commitment to serving both patients and the profession.
XDR® offers dentist-driven radiology, imaging, and diagnostic tools that enhance patient care, improve efficiency, and drive practice success by bridging the gap between dentistry and technology.
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