Nicholas Romano
The downfall of Kodak is a sad story of a company that for many years was a keystone business in Rochester, NY. From inventing the Brownie camera to creating motion picture film, the George Eastman dream is all but bittersweet.
As a Rochester native I have sat and wondered where Kodak went wrong. How did this company with over 20,000 employees worldwide cease to exist. Was it the transition from film to digital? The increase in overseas operations? The love for film seemed all but lost. The consumers made film obsolete with the increased affection and efficiency of the digital age.
In 1908 dentistry was changed forever with the introduction of radiography or x-rays. Leading the charge for the creation of x-ray film was Kodak. Dentists across the globe were able to diagnose cavities efficiently and effectively with this new technology. The now archaic process of developing an x-ray is a lost art form. Nothing compares to being able to develop your own x-rays. My experience of trying to adjust to the darkness, open the small 1×1 film, dispose of the lead filament, the smell of developer and fixer, and the anticipation of seeing the film after development. Each x-ray held some sort of personal pride for a job well done. It told the story of Kodak, dentistry and how it got there all in one little film.
It was only a matter of time before film in dentistry became cumbersome, expensive and outdated. Digital x-ray technology has no film, no art form and no pride. Digital technology took over, with less x-ray exposure, smaller sensors and a cost efficient way to take x-rays. It far surpassed the regular x-ray film on all levels. The sharp picture, focus and ability to transmit them via email made digital x-rays the future of dentistry. Ridgecrest Dental has adopted the digital x-ray and would not go back to the long lost x-ray film days.
I for one will always remember what Kodak did for this country, but more importantly Rochester, NY. We all forget that it was not so long ago that film was the future. I dedicate this post to the thousands affected by the Kodak decline. Our office wishes you the best of luck.
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