Justification and Interpretation Caries and Periapical Pathology

Question 1

What are the optimum viewing condition for diagnosing caries using a radiograph?

Answer 1

Low ambient light and a bright screen limited to area of image

Question 2

Why do we get ‘cervical burnout’?

Answer 2

The x-ray photons over-penetrate or burn out the thinner tooth edge and create the radiolucent area that mimics cervical caries

Question 3

How often should a high risk child receive an intra-oral radiograph?

Answer 3

6 monthly

Question 4

How often should a moderate risk child receive an intra-oral radiograph?

Answer 4

Annually

Question 5

How often should a low risk child receive an intra-oral radiograph?

Answer 5

12-18 months (deciduous teeth)
24 months or more (permanent teeth)

Question 6

The supportive and connective tissue element which form in cancellous bone

Answer 6

Trabecula

Question 7

What is the trabecula pattern?

Answer 7

Course of stress lines along the bone and maximum trabeculae develop along the lines of maximum stress

Question 8

what type of trabecula pattern does the mandible have?

Answer 8

Thick, close together, horizontally aligned

Question 9

what type of trabecula pattern does the maxilla have?

Answer 9

Finer, more widely spaced, no obvious alignment pattern

Question 10

The three most important features to look at when assessing if there is peri-radicular disease on a radiograph, are?

Answer 10

radiolucent line representing the periodontal ligament space
radioopaque line representing lamina dura
trabecula pattern and density of surrounding bone

Question 11

What is the radiographic appearance of initial acute inflammation in periapical pathology?

Answer 11

no apparent changes
OR
possible widening of PDL

Question 12

What is the radiographic appearance of initial spread of inflammation in periapical pathology?

Answer 12

Loss of lamina dura at apex

Question 13

What is the radiographic appearance of further inflammatory spread in periapical pathology?

Answer 13

Periapical bone loss

Question 14

What is the radiographic appearance of initial chronic inflammation in periapical pathology?

Answer 14

No bone destruction seen
OR
dense sclerotic bone periapically (sclerosing osteitis)

Question 15

What is the radiographic appearance of chronic, long standing, inflammation in periapical pathology?

Answer 15

circumscribed, well defined, radiolucent area periapically with sclerotic bone surrounding