occlusal radiographs

Question 1

what are the selection criteria for occlusal rads? (why take them?)

Answer 1

• determination of the precise buccal or lingual location of roots or impacted teeth
• localize roeign bodies, broken instruments, restorative materials
• localization of soft tissue calcifications (sialoliths, phleboliths, calcified nodes, etc)
• assist in exam of patient with trismus who can only open a few mm
• evaluate integrity of anterior, medial and lateral walls of maxillary sinus
• determine the nature and extent of cortical thinning, expansion and/or perforation caused by osteomyelitides, custs or neoplasms

Question 2

anterior maxillary occlusal projection:

patient position, film position, cone position, and what does it visualize?

Answer 2

• patient siting upright with ala-tragus line parallel to floor
• film back in mouth until the leading edge toughes the raphe
• +65 degrees thru bridge of nose
• visualizes canine to canine and anterior hard palate

Question 3

posterior maxillary occlusal projection:

patient, film, and cone positioning, and what does it visualize?

Answer 3

• patient should be sitting upright in chair with ala-tragus line parallel to floor, headrest also upright
• film, white side up, centered over the arch of interest back to the raphe
• cone vertical angualtion +60 degrees through the area of infraorbiatl foramen
• it best visualizes…

Question 4

anterior mandibular occlusal projection

Answer 4

• patient upright in chair with headrest tipped back
• film positioned with white side down in anterior
• cone -55 degress through tip of chine
• visualizes…

Question 5

posterior mandibular occlusal projection

Answer 5

• patient chair should be parallel to the floor with the headrest back
• film on desired side
• cone should enter at 0 degrees