X-rays have higher energy and smaller wave lengths than ultraviolet waves.  X-rays are referred to in energy because the wavelengths are very small.  An x-ray detector collects photons of light from the x-ray, creating a silhouette picture.  Before the patient receives an x-ray, the doctor will apply a film to the area being observed.  The film is called a radiograph.  The x-ray light is actually shot through the body to capture a picture of the bone.  The picture of the bone appears as a white color because x-rays absorb a lot of calcium.  At the dentist, the doctor will place the film in the patient’s mouth to shoot the photograph.  X-rays are completely painless, accurate, and fast.  Patients are exposed to a minimal amount of radiation during the process. 

Uses

Health care professionals use x-rays to check for broken bones and problems in the lungs or abdomens. Dentists use them to find cavities or other problems in the teeth.  Doctors are able to detect tumors or other medical problems that may exist in the patient’s body.  For example, a physician might use an x-ray to check for cancer or other deadly diseases.  Lungs actually appear black in photographs because they absorb the least amount of x-ray light.