I love reading about discoveries that happened, quite by accident. One very famous; the X-ray. It is one of those everyday miracles we barely think about anymore. The story behind the X-ray is actually pretty entertaining, and I thought I’d share it with you.

X‑rays were discovered by the German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röentgen. In 1895, he was alone in his lab experimenting with electrical currents in vacuum tubes — the kind of project only a physicist could love. Suddenly he noticed a strange glow coming from a nearby screen, even though it was blocked by cardboard. To his disbelief, he saw the bones of his hand unmistakably displayed. That shouldn’t have been possible. For a few weeks he didn’t tell anyone, because he genuinely thought he might be imagining things. I think we’ve all had moments like that, though maybe not quite as dramatic.

Once he realized he wasn’t hallucinating, he presented his findings, and the world went absolutely wild. People were fascinated by the idea of seeing inside the human body without touching it. Roentgen became famous, and in 1901 he was awarded the inaugural Nobel Prize for physics. He was a true hero of science, and refused to patent his discovery, considering it a gift to mankind.

And as often happens with new technology some early uses were questionable. Years ago, one of my older patients told me that when he was a child, he could walk into the local shoe store, drop a few coins into a machine, and see the bones in his feet. I thought he had to be kidding, but it turns out it was true. They were called shoe-fitting fluoroscopes, and they were everywhere for a while. Kids loved them. Parents thought they were modern and scientific. Meanwhile, the machines were quietly delivering far more radiation than anyone realized. Eventually they were phased out, and today they live in the “what were we thinking?” category of history. Thankfully, we’ve learned a lot since then.

Modern digital dental X-rays are incredibly safe, and a world apart from the early days. The amount of radiation in a routine set of bitewing X-rays is tiny, far less than what you’d get on a short airplane flight. When we add a lead apron and a thyroid collar, exposure drops even further. Digital sensors are so efficient that we get crisp, detailed images with only a fraction of the energy old film X‑rays needed. Of course, we still follow the standard of care and only take X‑rays when necessary. Screening X‑rays help us catch issues early and are recommended. Most insurance plans cover these X-rays annually.

So yes; X‑rays began as a scientific accident, briefly became a shoe‑store novelty, and eventually turned into one of the safest and most essential parts of modern dentistry. Not bad for a discovery Roentgen once thought might be a trick of the light.

Happy Labor Day

Tall Grasses A sure sign of Autumn is when the grasses turn to seed. Beautiful, and deer-proof!

My Friday Morning Walk On the left, this huge tree is starting to turn. On my right are the neighbor kids on the bus stop. We all have a gorgeous Labor Day weekend to enjoy.

I am starting to dream of home-made soups. Does anyone have a favorite recipe? If you do, let me know. Until then, enjoy Labor Day and a short work week... Joanne