Extraoral Radiography 2 Flashcards
What is cephalometric radiography?
Lateral radiographic view of the skull.
Taken with x-rays aimed perpendicular to the midsagittal plane of the skull.
How must the midsagittal place be organized for cephalometric radiography?
It must be perpendicular to the floor.
What is cephalometric radiography used for?
Usually for orthodontic and/or orthognatic surgery cases.
It is reproducible because of a cephalostat.
What type of scan is cephalometric radiography comparable to?
This is the dental counterpart of the lateral skull radiograph in general radiology.
How is cephalostat done?
2 ear rods + 1 nose bridge
Central X-ray through the external auditory meatus or patient scanned from posterior to anterior.
Midsaggital plane should be perpendicular to the floor
Teeth in maximal occlusion
Neck straightened
What must be visible in a cephalometric radiograph?
Bones of the skull (sella turcica is used as a reference)
Soft tissues of the face
How is the image different between analogue and direct digital imaging of a cephalometric radiograph?
In analogue imaging, an aluminum wedge is placed in the area of the soft tissue profile which absorbs more X-rays, rendering the soft tissues visible on the radiograph.
In direct digital imaging, the aluminum wedge has been replaced by software enabling one to distinguish those soft tissues by automatic lowering of the kVp during exposure.
How can the aligment be tested in cephalostat imaging?
One ear rod will have a small metal ball and the other one a metal ring. When alignment is good then the ball should be in the middle of the ring.
What are the indications for using cephalostat?
Diagnosis of underlying skeletal pathology / aberrations
Diagnosis of jaw fractures
Diagnosis of underlying pathology or aberrations of soft tissues
Planning for orthodontic treatment / orthognatic surgery
Follow-up of any of the above indications.
Position assessment in the skull (often replaced by cone beam CT or MSCT)
How should head be arranged in anterior-posterior radiographs?
Nose-forehead towards the image receptor. Maxillary sinuses are more visible if the petrous part of the temporal bone being projected higher in the image
Chin-nose towards the image receptor if the petrous part of the temporal bone is being projected lower in the image to make orbits better visible.
Caveats for arrangement of anterior-posterior cephalostat radiographs:
L and R changes so check ear pods for correct orientation
How should head be positioned? (chin up or down)
Midsagittal plane of skull should be perpendicular to the floor
What are the important reference points that are important for cephalometry?
Sella turcica (S)
Orbitale (infra-orbital rim)
Nasion (most anterior point of the naso-frontal suture)
ANS (Anterior nasal spine)
Prosthion
Point A or subspinal point (A)
Infradental point (Id)
Pogonion (Pog)
Supramental point or point B (B)
Menton (Me)
Gnathion (Gn)
Gonion (Go)
PNS
Articulare (Ar)
Porion (Po)
Where is the infradental point located?
Most anterior point of the alveolar crest of the mandible near the incisors (Between the 2 central incisors)
Where is the pogonion located?
Most anterior point on the cortex of the chin
Where is the supramental point located?
Deepest point in the anterior cortex of the mandible. (Deepest point between Id and Pog)
Where is the menton located?
Lowest point of the mandibular cortex near the symphysis
What is the gnathion?
Most anterior and inferior point of the cortex of the mandible near the chin (middle between Pog en Me)
What is the gonion?
Most lateral external point of the angle of the mandible.
(Draw a bisecting line between the line tangient to the lower border of the mandible and the line tangent to the posterior rim of the ramus of the mandible.)
Where is the PNS?
Most posterior point of the floor of the nose / hard palate
What is the articulare?
Crossing between the tangient line of the ramus of the mandible and the line tangient to the lower border of the sphenoid bone.
What is the porion?
Most superior point of the external acoustic meatus - should/could coincide with the ear rod shadow of the cephalostat
What 2 reference points does the frankfort line pass through?
Po and Or
What reference points does the maxillary plane pass through?
ANS and PNS
What reference point does the mandibular plane pass through?
Tangient line to the inferior border of the mandible. Goes through Gn and Go
Also through Me and Go
What reference points does the SN plane run through?
S and N. It is used to calculate the angle between SN and point A (relative position of the maxilla in relation to the anterior base of the skull)
What is the angle between SN and point B?
The relative position of the mandible in relation to the anterior base of the skull (SN plane)