Introduction to Dental Radiography and Radiology

Abstract

In contemporary dental practice it is utterly impossible to imagine diagnostic workflow without the benefits of radiology. Visualisation methods using ionising radiation are still the most suitable for imaging of dental and alveolar tissues as they are based on attenuation of X-rays by dense objects. Currently the following radiographic techniques are available for imaging of teeth and tooth-bearing structures: intraoral radiographs (periapical, bitewing, occlusal), panoramic radiographs, cephalometric radiographs (lateral, postero-anterior, axial—submento-vertex) and cross-sectional images of, for example, TMJs. Many radiographic techniques have become obsolete with the advent of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Even though dental radiographs are fairly frequently taken, they cannot be regarded “routine” or “survey” radiographs. For every X-ray exposure, even performed with a relatively low burden of ionising radiation, must be justified and optimised, and derived information fully assessed. A dentist should know how to take dental radiographs and CBCT volumes, how errors in radiographic technique can affect the resultant images and compromise diagnosis, how to differentiate normal anatomic landmarks and finally how to interpret radiographic images.