Endodontic Radiographs

Question 1

Purpose of radiographs

Answer 1

• Establish initial diagnosis (apical pathology)
• Provide information about tooth anatomy (pulp chamber, root morphology, root curve, apical morphology)
• Determine working length
• Assess quality of instrumentation and obturation

Question 2

Lamina dura

Answer 2

layer of compact bone forming the wall of a tooth socket

• well-defined radiopacity that surrounds tooth root
• Discontinuation or change in width of lamina dura indicates pathology

Question 3

Periapical radiolucency (PARL)

Answer 3

Radiolucency surrounding apex of tooth root

• Bacteria in root canal release toxin out of apical foramen
• Inflammatory reaction of apical tissue

Question 4

Pre-op periapical radiograph should be taken?

Answer 4

• Always taken immediately before treatment
• Take periapical radiograph -> best to use PARALLEL technique: need to make sure that there is no elongation or foreshortening
• Include adjacent teeth and >2mm of apical bone
• Use two angles for localization - direct + Tube-shift

Question 5

Describe Tube localization - SLOB rule

Answer 5

SLOB = Same lingual; opposite buccal

• If object moves in the same direction as the tube-head, the object is lingual
• If object moves in the opposite direction as the tube-head, the object is buccal

Question 6

Reason for tube localization

Answer 6

• Identify superimpmosed canals and structures

- Identify curvature of canals