Annals of
Dental Research
Annals of Dental Research (2012) Vol 2 (1): 21-25
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Review
History of X-Rays in Dentistry
Dhaliwal Ambikaa, Singh Narendera, Kapila Rishabha, Rajput Rajana
Abstract
a
Department of Oral Medicine and
Radiology, National Dental College
and Hospital, Punjab, India.
The discovery of x-rays can be perceived as the
culmination of work of many years, beginning as early as 1821.
Roentgen started his work on x-rays during the summer of 1894,
when he repeated all of Lenard’s published work (on cathode rays
Correspondence to
and inverse square law), familiarizing himself with the equipment.
Dr. Rishabh Kapila, MDS
House Number 110, Sector 12-A
Panchkula,
Haryana- 134109
Following several experiments, Roentgen discovered x-rays on
November 8, 1895. Roentgen’s discovery opened up an exciting
field for doctors. It was now possible to use this new form of
Phone +91-9256637774.
e-mail: [email protected]
radiation in the study of the human body. Broken bones, for
example, could now be looked at by using the rays to see straight
Article Info
Received: 20 March 2012
Revised: 16 April 2012
Accepted: 19 May 2012
through flesh. The news of this amazing breakthrough caused a
major stir in the medical and scientific communities.
Annals of Dental Research (2012) 2(1), 21-25
Keywords:
X-rays, discovery, radiation.
Copyright: © 2012 Dhaliwal et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction
in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
ADR- 1 2 - 4 5
Dhaliwal et al
History of X-Rays
on a photographic plate and exposed it to
Roentgen and the x-rays
Following autumn of 1895 due to
the unknown ray for 15 minutes. On
his obligations of the rectorship, Professor
developing the plate, the outline of bones
Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen could only
in her hand could be seen (Figure 1). 1 On
devote his evening hours to the study of
December 28,1895, just 40 days after the
cathode rays. It was on a Friday evening
initial observation of x rays, Roentgen
that he darkened his laboratory to obscure
submitted a paper, “On A New Kind Of
the fluorescence produced by Hittorf-
Rays, A Preliminary Communication,” to
Crookes tube. He covered the tube with
the Wurzburg Physical Medical Society
black cardboard and applied power to the
for publication in its journal. It was
electrodes with a Ruhmkoff induction coil.
published just 4 days later, apparently
To his surprise he observed a faint glow
without any revision. He continued the
on a table some distance from the tube.
examination of x rays and 3 months later,
The source of glimmering was another
on March 9,1896, published his second
fluorescent screen covered with barium
paper, “On A New Kind Of Rays,
platinocyanide.
his
Continued” in the same journal of the
experience with cathode rays, Roentgen
Wurzburg Society. Again, on March 10,
realized that the distance between the
almost a year after the second paper was
Hittorf - Crookes tube and the glowing
published the third scientific report,
screen was well beyond the distance (6 to
“Further Observations on A New Kind of
8 cm) that cathode rays from the Lenard
Ray”, was published in the journal of the
tube could be detected. He realized that he
Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin. 2
was observing a new form of energy. He
So complete and detailed were his studies
determined that the new energy (x rays
and descriptions of the nature of x-rays
due to the unknown nature), in addition to
that over the next 15 years only the facts
traveling much farther in air than cathode
that x rays could be polarized and
rays, was able to penetrate dense materials
defracted were to be added to the
to
information these three reports provided.
varying
As
degrees.
knowledge that
a
result
of
Combining
the
certain materials would
However
these
latter
two
facts
absorb the beam of x rays when placed in
demonstrated that x rays are in fact
its path, Roentgen demonstrated that an
electromagnetic radiation. Roentgen was
image of dense object could be captured
awarded many honors and distinctions: An
on the photographic plate. Roentgen
honorory
proceeded to make the first radiograph of
Maximilian University in Wurzburg, The
the human body; he placed his wife’s hand
Rhumford Gold Medal of the Royal
M.D.
degreee
from
the
22
ADR, Vol 2, Issue 1, 2012
History of X-rays
Dhaliwal et al
Society (British), The Iron Cross from
investigating the properties of fluorescent
Hindenburg. Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen
minerals. Becquerel was researching the
was awarded the first Nobel Prize for
principles of fluorescence, wherein certain
Physics in 1901. 28 years after his
minerals glow (fluoresce) when exposed to
discovery Roentgen died of cancer at the
sunlight. He utilized photographic plates
age of 78 years. Roentgen’s discovery
to record this fluorescence. Becquerel
was to open up an exciting field for
continued to test samples of uranium
doctors. It was now possible to use this
compounds and determined that the source
new form of radiation in the study of the
of radiation was the element uranium.
human body. Broken bones, for example,
Bacquerel’s discovery was, unlike that of
could now be looked at by using the rays
the Xrays, virtually unnoticed by laymen
to see straight through flesh. The news of
and
this amazing breakthrough caused a major
scientists were interested in Becquerel’s
stir
scientific
findings. It was not until the discovery of
communities. The news had soon travelled
radium by the Curies two years later that
around the world. Doctors soon picked up
interest
1
in
the
medical
and
on the beneficial uses of the x-ray
scientists
to
diagnose
health
complaints.
In
in
widespread.
photography and were quick in using them
alike.
Relatively
radioactivity
few
became
2
While working in France at the
time of Becquerel’s discovery, Polish
Germany, a museum was set-up in the
scientist
name of it’s discoverer - Roentgen (Figure
interested in his work. She suspected that a
2).
1
uranium
Marie
ore
contained
Discovery of new radio-activities
Curie
known
other
became
as
very
pitchblende
radioactive
elements.
Shortly after the discovery of X-
Marie and her husband, the French
rays, another form of penetrating rays was
scientist Pierre Curie, started looking for
discovered. In 1896, French scientist
these other elements. In 1898, the Curies
Henri
natural
discovered another radioactive element in
radioactivity. Many scientists of the period
pitchblende, and named it Polonium in
were working with cathode rays, and other
honour of Marie Curie’s native homeland.
scientists were gathering evidence on the
Later that year the Curies discovered
theory that the atom could be subdivided.
another radioactive element which they
Some of the new research showed that
named Radium, or shining element. Both
certain types of atoms disintegrate by
polonium
themselves. It was Henri Becquerel who
radioactive than uranium. Since these
discovered
discoveries,
Becquerel
this
discovered
phenomenon
ADR, Vol 2, Issue 1, 2012
while
and
radium
many
other
were
more
radioactive
23
Dhaliwal et al
elements
produced.
History of X-Rays
have
been
discovered
or
2,3
hire a female dental assistant and the one
of first to expose a dental radiograph in the
United States (Figure 3). 5
Roentgen and the dentistry
Even
dentists
quickly
Rollins developed a number of
recognized the diagnostic advantage for
pioneering instruments for dentistry an
their own special medical field. Especially
improved on others already in existence.
in dental surgery, significant progress was
He invented a rheostat with hundreds of
achieved through the new possibilities of a
steps for the purpose of causing anesthesia
radiological examination. 14 days later the
by electricity, and made mention of a
publication
Otto
rheostat that he invented which was
Walkhoff in Braunschweig made the first
continuously variable, depending on the
picture of the teeth. Walkhoff received the
effect
first intraoral X-ray after an exposure time
conductivity
of some 25 minutes. In addition to the
consecutive accidents with the use of X-
torture of the long exposure time one also
rays,
had to accept other inconveniences such as
deleterious agent relates primarily to the
of
very
Roentgen,
the loss of hair, for instance.
Dr.
3
of
Dr.
light
on
of
the
selenium.
Rollins
affirms
electrical
In
that
the
the
Roentgen radiations. X-rays entertainment
Louis Richard Chauvin and Félix
sessions are daily given at that time in
Allard introduced their own technic and
private living rooms in USA and in
the practical application X-rays. Frank
Europe. 6
Harrison in England; William James
Morton Junior were the first users of the
References
X-rays, in the United States. He published
1. Davis AB. Medicine and its technology.
the first dental skiagraphs in USA the first
article in the Dental Cosmos of April 24,
1896. From this emergent point of the
Westport CT: Greenwood Press; 1981.
2. Evens RG. Rontgen retrospective: one
hundred years of a revolutionary technology. J
Am Med Assoc. 1995;274 (11):912-917.
electrons, the Xrays spread out in every
3. Friedman M, Friedland GW. Medicine’s 10
directions. In 1897, the Franch Professeur
greatest discoveries. New Haven, CT: Yale
Béclère set up first laboratory of radiology
Univ. Press; 1998.
in his department of the Tenon Hospital.
4
4. Forrai J. Culture history of dentistry. Dental
Dr. C. Edmund Kells, a dentist practicing
Press Budapest. 2005;84-113.
in the deep South, became a pioneer in the
5. Thomas A. The Radiology History &
profession of Dentistry and Medicine with
Heritage Charitable Trust, Newsletter of the
his numerous inventions and publications.
Kells was also one of the first dentists to
24
Radiology History and Heritage Charitable
Trust Winter.1998;(10):5-24.
ADR, Vol 2, Issue 1, 2012
History of X-rays
Dhaliwal et al
6. Campbell DJ. A brief history of dental
radiography. N Z Dent J. 1995;91(406):127133.
Figure 1: First radiograph made by
Roentgen
Figure 3: Dr. Kells at his laboratory
Citation: Dhaliwal A, Singh N, Kapila R, Rajput R.
History of X-rays in dentistry. Annals of Dental Research
2012; 2 (1): 21-25
Figure 2: Roentgen Museum in
Germany
ADR, Vol 2, Issue 1, 2012
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