Dental Radiographs: Intraoral And Extraoral X-Rays

Also known as radiographs, X-rays are integral components any dental care procedure. In most cases, X-rays are diagnostic, but can also be used as preventatives, helping dentists identify potential dental issues well before they become a major complication. Essentially, an X-ray is an energy form that moves through soft tissues and is absorbed by the dense ones. 

Dental X-rays are images of bones, teeth and soft tissues surrounding them and help diagnose cavities, bone loss and complications in dental structure, which are often left undiagnosed during visual examinations. 

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Dental X-rays are divided into two distinct categories, which are intraoral X-rays, taken inside the mouth, and extraoral X-rays, outside of the mouth. With higher details and sophistication, the former is the more commonly used procedure.

Intraoral X-rays

In dentistry, intraoral radiographs are the most common types of X-rays and provide the dentists with a higher level of teeth and bone detail. They help the dentists:

• In finding cavities
• Look at the tooth roots
• Identify the occurrence of periodontal diseases
• Inspect bone health
• Check the status of developing teeth

The following are the different types of intraoral X-rays that help dentists examine different aspects of oral health:

1. Periapical X-ray: This is used to highlight the entire length of a tooth from the end of its root to the exposed crown and the bones that support the tooth. At most, it can only cover 2 teeth at a time. Such radiographs are used to diagnose dental flaws in the jaws and below the gum line like bone changes, cysts, and impacted teeth.

2. Bitewing X-ray: It's used to show the crown of the lower back of the teeth in a single view. It highlights the bicuspids and upper and lower molars and helps diagnose tooth decay, upper and lower teeth line-up and bone loss in cases of severe infections and gum complications.

3. Occlusal X-rays: Larger than most X-rays, Occlusal X-rays are used to scan the roof and the floor of the mouth to highlight tooth development, extra teeth, cleft palates, jaw fractures, etc.

Extraoral X-rays

These are used to detect dental issues in the jaw and skull. Since they are less detailed than their oral counterparts, they cannot be used to detect flaws and cavities in individual teeth. The following is the most common type of extraoral radiograph:

Panoramic X-ray: Panoramic radiographs depict a broad view of teeth, jaws, nasal area, sinuses and temporomandibular joints and involve less radiation than intraoral X-rays. These are used to detect problems like bone abnormalities, infections, tumors, impacted teeth, etc.

With a terrific team of well-qualified dental specialists and experts, Dr. Bhutani Dental Clinic in Delhi is one of the finest dental institutes for oral care.

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Article Source: EzineArticles