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151577 https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.17752 http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ All Rights Reserved 2013 v, 68 p. : ill. (some col.) Masters Thesis Academic theses Text eng Martinez, Britta Ellison, Karin Maienschein, Jane Hurlbut, Ben Arizona State University Partial requirement for: M.S., Arizona State University, 2013 Includes bibliographical references (p. 63-68) Field of study: Biology A dental exam in twenty-first century America generally includes the taking of radiographs, which are x-ray images of the mouth. These images allow dentists to see structures below the gum line and within the teeth. Having a patient's radiographs on file has become a dental standard of care in many states, but x-rays were only discovered a little over 100 years ago. This research analyzes how and why the x-ray image has become a ubiquitous tool in the dental field. Primary literature written by dentists and scientists of the time shows that the x-ray was established in dentistry by the 1950s. Therefore, this thesis tracks the changes in x-ray technological developments, the spread of information and related safety concerns between 1890 and 1955. X-ray technology went from being an accidental discovery to a device commonly purchased by dentists. X-ray information started out in the form of the anecdotes of individuals and led to the formation of large professional groups. Safety concerns of only a few people later became an important facet of new devices. These three major shifts are described by looking at those who prompted the changes; they fall into the categories of people, technological artifacts and institutions. The x-ray became integrated into dentistry as a product of the work of people such as C. Edmund Kells, a proponent of dental x-rays, technological improvements including faster film speed, and the influence of institutions such as Victor X-Ray Company and the American Dental Association. These changes that resulted established a strong foundation of x-ray technology in dentistry. From there, the dental x-ray developed to its modern form. Biology Dentistry--United States--History--20th century. Dentistry Teeth--Radiography--United States--History--20th century. teeth In a new light: early x-ray technology in dentistry, 1890-1955