radiolucencies Flashcards
What is a radiolucency
A darker area on a radiogrpah
What causes radiolucencies
Thinning of hard tissue reactive to adjacent area
reduced hard tissue mineral
Why does dental caries appear radiolucent on a radiograph
Due to reduction of mineral content leading to a less dense material
What can radiolucent areas be caused by
- Normal anatomy
- Artefact
- Pathology
Give examples of normal anatomy that can appear radiolucent on a radiograph
- Maxillary antrum
- Mental foramen
- Submandibular fossa
What artefacts can cause radiolucencies
Over exposure
Superimposition of air shadow
What do we need to include when describing a radiolucency
- Position/ site
- Size
3Shape - Locularity
- Margin
- Effect on adjacent structures
How can we describe a radiolucent area in relation to dentition and tooth
- Periapical- at the apex
- Pericoronal- around the crown
- Radicular- related to the root
How can we describe the margins of a radiolucent area
- Corticated, well defined, smooth
- Moth eaten, ill defined/ indistinct, punched out
What does a corticated well defined smooth margin suggest
Slow growth more Riley to be benign pahtolfy
What does a Moth eaten, ill defined/ indistinct, punched out margin suggest
Suggests rapid growth
can be seen in infection and malignancy
What effect can radiolucencies have on teeth
- Resorption
- Displacement
- Delayed eruption
- Loss of associated lamina dura
What effect can radiolucencies have on Inferior alveolar canal
Can displace it
What effect can radiolucencies have on maxillary antrum
Can displace the floor of the maxillary antrum upwards
List some pathological causes of radiolucencies
- Cysts
- Tumours
- Bone related lesions
- Bone disorders
