A digital radiography sensor (the corded kind) takes the place of the film; but that’s not all, it also takes the place of the processor. (This is not the case for so called wireless sensors which still need a processor.)

Dentists or hygienist are often panicked that if they only have one sensor it might be in use when they need it so they must have several sensors.

That is silly. If an office can function with one automatic processor it can function with one sensor.

Larger offices often ask me how many sensors they need when switching to digital. The simple answer is how many automatic film processors do you need? If they are getting by with one processor they can almost always get by with one sensor.

How many corded digital radiography sensors does a practice need? To understand the answer to this question, each clinician must ask him or herself “how many dark rooms or automatic processors did I need”? The answer, of course, is one.
A corded sensor is not just a film substitute; it is a processor substitute as well. In essence, it serves as a reusable film that processes an x-ray in four seconds and then can be used again. Practitioners operating with one automatic film processor can continue to do so using one corded sensor.