A model for digital archiving of radiographs into a searchable database

Digital images are routinely used in orthodontic practices today. Many systems and formats are available for producing, storing, retrieving, viewing, and sharing these images. The digital imaging and communication in medicine (DICOM) standard is designed to ensure that these systems and formats are compatible, so that an image produced in a small private practice today can be viewed next year in a large hospital. The purpose of this article is to describe a method for laser scanning and digitization of analog (film) radiographs that meets DICOM standards and allows for web-based archiving, searching, and retrieval.