A Penetrating Look
November 8, 1999 marked the 104th anniversary of the discovery of the x-ray. This discovery, which captivated the scientific world, forever altered the practice of dentistry and medicine and continues to make a great impact on our lives.
When physicist William Conrad Roentgen first accidentally stumbled onto this new form of energy, he knew absolutely nothing about its properties other than that it had the ability to penetrate solid materials. Therefore he called these energy rays "x" because of their unknown natures.
Roentgen's tenacity and genius as an investigative scientist opened the door to the science of diagnostic radiology. It was his goal to define all the properties of this energy and, in doing so, he found that the rays could penetrate the human body. With this new ability to reveal the "secrets of the body" the medical and dental community had a powerful tool for the diagnosis and treatment of disease and the evaluation of trauma.
Roentgen received many honors, including the change of the name of his discovery from "x-ray" to "Roentgen Ray". In 1901 he was awarded the first Nobel Prize in Physics. However, he was a modest man and he was determined not to reap any personal benefits from his discovery. He declined tributes to his work and donated his Nobel Prize money to the University of Wurzburg and the German war effort.
The science of radiology is ever advancing. X-ray images have evolved from ill-defined shadows on photographic glass plates to clear images on high-resolution film and digital images. Exposure times have been reduced from hours and minutes to hundreds of a second. This particular advancement reduces the potential risk of exposure to x-rays from one of significance to one that is consistent with common risks found in everyday life.
In addition, computer programs now allow clinicians to manipulate and interact with digitally acquired images. With three-dimensional imaging now a reality, clinicians are able to visualize the spatial relationship of anatomic structures and are therefore able to generate anatomic images for pre-surgical treatment planning. The scientific community continues to look for ways to utilize Roentgen's discovery in ways to benefit mankind with the least amount of risk.