Abstract
Obtaining an intraoral periapical radiograph of the maxillary anterior teeth can be quite challenging, especially in patients where a rigid digital sensor cannot adequately fit in the palatal vault. This technical report presents a periapical radiographic technique that places the sensor in the space surrounding the hamular notch to avoid the spatial restrictions of the hard palate, opening the possibility of parallel alignment of the sensor and the long axis of the tooth, perpendicular alignment of the tube-head to both, and a minimally distorted resultant radiographic image. Four adult patients demonstrated the quantitative and qualitative features of this hamular technique (HT). A human skull demonstrated relative magnification and image quality. While patient and equipment-specific, comparisons of magnification, distortion, and image quality illustrate the potential capabilities and limitations of the HT. The HT radiographs appeared to be less distorted than the variable-angle technique (VAT-a clinical approximation of the bisecting angle technique) but magnified 7.9-21.6%. A radiograph of an implant showed a 2.0% distortion over true aspect ratio. The HT radiograph from a human skull showed a slightly lighter and less sharp image than the VAT radiograph. Preliminary results showed that while the HT images were magnified, lighter, and less sharp that the VAT, they were diagnosable for caries. In all the HT images presented in this technical report, there was less distortion than comparable techniques. Notably, one HT periapical radiograph of a maxillary lateral implant showed virtually no distortion, suggesting that a nearly parallel projection was achieved using the technique. While further research is needed, this report shows that the HT has the potential to produce minimally distorted digital radiographs of anterior teeth in patients where the sensor cannot adequately fit into the palatal vault.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.