Radiology

Types of Intra Oral Radiographs and Their Indications 
Reference:http://www.amazon.com/Oral-Radiology-Interpretation-Stuart-White/dp/0323049834/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

 Periapical Radiograph

• Visualizes crowns, contact points, roots, apices and area around the apices
• Indication: periapical pathosis, lesions in alveolar process, jaws, and proximal caries in anterior teeth
• Method: paralleling technique; the film is placed parallel to the long axis of the tooth, and x-ray should always be 90 degrees to the long axis of the tooth and the film
  Note: x-ray is what comes out of the machine, radiograph is the image

Interproximal (Bitewing) Radiograph

• Has less distortion than periapical
• Used to visualize crowns with contact, periodontal bone level
• Indications: proximal and occlusal caries and periodontal bone loss on posteriors
• Method: x-ray beam is at a 90 degree angle to object and film.
  Note: if x-ray is not 90 degrees you get image distortion. Bitewing radiographs have the least distortion!!
• A full mouth series consists of both periapicals and bitewings.

 

Occlusal Radiographs

A special type of intraoral radiograph made with the film held between the occluded teeth. Used to visualize bucco-lingual aspect.

Maxillary Topographical Occlusal/ Anterior Maxillary Occlusal Projection

• Visualizes large areas of maxilla (palate and alveolus); but teeth are distorted.
• Indications: impacted anterior teeth, large pathologic lesions, and localizing objects in the buccal-lingual dimension.
  Note: Can visualize buccal-lingual aspect with occlusal radiogrpahs but CANNOT with periapical and bitewing, which only show mesio-distal aspect. All radiograps are 2D depictions of a 3D object.
  

  

  The primary field includes the anterior maxilla and it's dentition and the anterior floor of the nasal fossa and teeth from canine to canine.

  
  

Anterior Mandibular Occlusal Projection

• Visualizes anterior mandibular alveolar process
• Indications: developing permanent teeth in children, and large pathologic lesions in anterior mandible.
  

  

  This projection includes the anterior portion of the mandible, the dentition from canine to canine, and the inferior cortical border of the mandible.

Cross-sectional Mandibular Occlusal Projection

• Visulalizes floor of the mouth and body of the mandible; but teeth are distorted.
• Indications: identifying objects in floor of mouth (eg., sialoliths), and localizing objects in the buccal-lingual dimension.
  
  

  

  This projection includes the soft tissue of the floor of the mouth and reveals the lingual and buccal plates of the mandible from second molar to second molar.