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Techniques for Dental X-Rays

The dental radiograph, otherwise known as a dental X-ray, allows dentists to look for potential oral health problems such as tooth decay, cavities and bone loss. Two types of X-rays typically are used by dentists: intraoral and extraoral. Intraoral X-rays examine oral health from the inside and include bite-wing, occlusal and periapical angles. Extraoral X-rays look at the mouth from the outside in and include panoramic imaging seen in many dentists' offices today.

  1. Bite-Wing X-Rays

    • Dentists use the traditional bite-wing X-ray to detect the formation of tooth decay and changes in bone density due to periodontal disease. Several images are taken which reveal details of lower and upper teeth from the bone to the crown of the tooth. Dentists also use the bite-wing X-ray to check the integrity of existing crowns and fillings.

    Occlusal X-Rays

    • The occlusal X-ray is used to reveal tooth placement and development in either the lower or upper jaw. It shows the entire arch of teeth, making it easy for dentists to see each tooth in relation to one another.

    Periapical X-Rays

    • The periapical X-ray is used to show dentists full tooth dimensions from the crown to beyond the end of the root. This dental X-ray technique is used for early detection of bone and root structure abnormalities.

    Panoramic X-Rays

    • The extraoral panoramic X-ray provides the dentist with a full view of the entire oral area. This includes all teeth in the lower and upper jaw and is displayed on a single X-ray as opposed to multiple bite-wing X-rays. The panoramic X-ray technique is particularly useful for instant identification of impacted, emerging and fully emerged teeth. It also can be used to diagnose oral tumors.

    Digital Imaging

    • Digital X-ray imaging is a newer technology whereby X-rays are not developed in a darkroom but are instantly sent to a computer where they can be displayed on a monitor. This technique is very useful because of its ability to enlarge images and more accurately detect problem spots. For example, the dentist can zoom in on an area of decay to determine the extent to which the tooth has been damaged. The ability to manipulate the image through computer technology aids the dentist in determining the proper course of treatment.

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