A digital X-ray panel and method of fabricating an X-ray detector panel assembly is provided. The method includes forming a detector matrix on the detector substrate, forming a dam on the detector substrate circumscribing the detector matrix, forming a scintillator material on the detector matrix, and forming a hermetic covering on the scintillator material that at least one of extends to a surface of the dam and extends past the dam. The digital X-ray panel assembly includes a detector substrate, a detector matrix formed on said detector substrate, a dam formed on said detector substrate circumscribing the detector matrix, a scintillator material formed on the detector matrix, and a hermetic covering formed on the scintillator material that at least one of extends past the detector matrix and the dam, and extends past the detector matrix onto a surface of the dam.