Dental x-ray

Dental x-ray


A dental x-ray is a picture of the inside of a tooth and bone.

 viewing and interpretation

• How to read or interpret an X-ray:

• Soft objects appear black, solid objects are white on x-ray.

• What you see as grey/black on x-ray:
  • Decay.
  • Abscess.
  • Nerves and blood vessels (the pulp).
  • Gum in the spaces between teeth.

• What you see as white/cream on x-ray:
• The enamel.
• Metal fillings and crowns will be white.
• The dentine appears as a creamy white colour.

• Bone has a mottled grey and white appearance. It has a fine white line at its margin around the teeth.

Illustration of x-ray showing  tooth parts and bone

                                                            Abscess above root
                                                                 (the dark area)

IMPACTED TOOTH

Digital x-ray imaging

• When computer technology is applied to the taking of x-rays, it allows the image to be made, stored, retrieved and transmitted to another site in a digital form:

• The images may be enlarged permitting better diagnosis.

• They can easily be stored in the computer or printed on paper.

• The system is thought to considerably reduce exposure to radiation.

• The use of digital x-ray imaging is increasing rapidly.

• The processing of x-ray films with developing solutions will become a thing of the past.

Intra-oral computer camera

• This is a specialised camera system:

• A thin instrument is moved around the mouth to take the photographs:

• The picture can immediately be viewed on a computer screen.

• The picture can be stored for future reference or comparison.

• Problems can be shown to the patient.

• The results of treatment can be shown.

• When cosmetic changes are planned, patients may preview the results before the treatment is decided.

• This system is increasingly being used for patient education and cosmetic dentistry.