While the public commonly uses the term “X-ray” to describe images taken at the dentist’s office, this is not the professional terminology. Dentists and hygienists use specific language that accurately reflects the technology and the resulting product. Understanding this professional vocabulary helps patients grasp the diagnostic power of the procedure and the specific information each image provides. These specialized images are a routine part of oral health assessment, offering a view of structures that a visual examination simply cannot reveal.
The Professional Name for Dental X-Rays
The correct professional term for the image itself is a radiograph, while the process of capturing the image is called radiography. This distinction is important because the word “X-ray” technically refers only to the invisible electromagnetic energy beam used to create the image, not the final picture that the dental team analyzes. The term “X-ray” is an abbreviation for X-radiation, a form of high-energy photon.
The term “radiograph” describes the process where a controlled burst of X-ray radiation penetrates the oral structures. Different tissues absorb the radiation at varying levels based on their density, and the remaining radiation strikes a digital sensor or film to produce the picture. Denser tissues, like teeth and restorations, appear lighter on the final radiograph, while less dense areas, such as soft tissue or decay, appear darker. Dental professionals interpret this subtle contrast to assess the patient’s oral health.
Understanding Different Types of Dental Images
To diagnose specific issues, dental professionals use several distinct types of radiographs, each named for the particular view it captures. These images fall into two main categories: intraoral, where the sensor is placed inside the mouth, and extraoral, where the sensor is outside the mouth. The most frequently taken intraoral images are bitewings and periapicals, which offer high-detail views of individual teeth and their surrounding structures.
Bitewing Radiographs
Bitewing radiographs are designed to show the crowns of both the upper and lower back teeth in a single image, along with the crest of the supporting bone. They get their name because the patient bites down on a small wing-shaped tab to hold the sensor in place. These views are most effective for detecting small cavities that form between the teeth, known as interproximal decay, which are impossible to see during a regular clinical exam. Bitewings are also used to assess early changes in the bone level caused by periodontal disease.
Periapical (PA) Radiographs
Periapical (PA) radiographs provide a full, detailed view of one or two entire teeth, from the chewing surface of the crown to the tip of the root, extending to the surrounding bone. The name “periapical” means “around the apex,” referring to the very end of the root. These images are necessary when a dentist needs to assess the health of the pulp tissue inside the tooth or check for signs of infection, such as an abscess, at the root tip. They are often taken when a patient has a specific pain or swelling localized to a single tooth.
Panoramic Radiographs
Panoramic radiographs, often called “Pans,” are a common type of extraoral image where the machine rotates around the patient’s head to capture a single, comprehensive two-dimensional image. This single image displays the entire mouth, including all teeth, the upper and lower jaws, the sinuses, and the temporomandibular joints. While a panoramic image provides a broad overview, it lacks the fine detail of bitewings or periapicals. Panoramic images are routinely used for planning orthodontic treatment, assessing the position of wisdom teeth, and identifying overall jawbone abnormalities or developmental issues.
Essential Diagnostic Uses of Imaging
Radiographs are an indispensable diagnostic tool, allowing the dental team to see structures hidden beneath the gums and inside the bone. Without these images, serious dental issues would progress silently until they caused pain or significant destruction. The core purpose of regular radiography is to facilitate the early detection of pathology that is otherwise clinically undetectable.
These images reveal the presence of dental caries, or decay, particularly in the tight spaces between teeth or underneath existing dental fillings or crowns. Beyond decay, radiographs are the primary method for identifying bone loss in the jaw, which is the hallmark of advanced periodontal disease. By monitoring the height of the supporting bone, the dentist can track the progression of gum disease and evaluate the success of treatment.
Radiographs also uncover problems deep within the jaw structure, such as infections, cysts, or tumors that may be asymptomatic in their early stages. They are used to locate impacted teeth, which are blocked from erupting into the mouth, common with wisdom teeth. Periapical images also show evidence of infection at the end of the tooth root, appearing as a dark area called a periapical radiolucency, which indicates an abscess.