selection and perception Flashcards
What radiographic action should be taken for tooth ache?
Bitewing if causative tooth isn’t visible
Periapical if causative is obvious but patient wants RCT
Sectional panoramic if trismus
What radiographic action should be taken for potential caries?
Bitewing may detect lesions that can’t be seen
Can be repeated depending on caries risk e.g. high-6mnths, moderate-12mnths and low-24mnths
Risk should be reassessed at each visit
What radiographic action should be taken for potential perio disease?
Available for code 3-4 (bitewing/periapical) to check bone levels
Full panoramic gives less radiation than full mouth PAs
Periapical for combined perio-endo lesion
What radiographic action should be taken for endodontics?
- Pretreatment
- Guide file
- Master cone
- Final fill
Usually fails within first 12mnths so review film taken a year after
If guide file is >3mm from apex should be repositioned and film repeated
What radiographic action should be taken for orthodontics?
Kids are 3x more sensitive to ionising radiation
Only useful for-
-extracting teeth (controversial)
-determine presence of unerupted p. teeth
-for functional appliances/surgery
What radiographic action should be taken for impacted third molars?
Root anatomy isn’t predictable so necessary
Sectional/full panoramic to show crown, roots and adjacent anatomy
What radiographic action should be taken for TMJ problems?
Usually solvable w conservative treatment e.g. diet, exercise, simple analgesics, bite splint
If not, open mouth panoramic to check bony anatomy
For internal derangement of disc- MRI needed to confirm
What radiographic action should be taken for potential trauma?
Dentoalveolar fractures- intra-oral periapical or occlusal
Tooth fragment in soft tissue- reduced exposure film
Mandible fracture- full panoramic and posteranterior view of jaws
Facial bone injury- occipitomental view
What radiographic action should be taken for potential salivary gland disease?
Symptoms- pain/swelling when eating under lower border of mandible or next to ear
Plain film but sialogram is ideal to detect calculi
Iodine injected via blunt needle into duct to see radiolucent blockage
How can perception be improved?
Turn off lights and shut blinds
Know anatomy
Have a strategy to screen whole image
Remember it’s a 2D image of a 3D object
What might be more radiopaque?
Metal e.g. amalgam or gold
What might be more radiolucent?
Caries, fluid-cyst, soft tissue-tumour
What anatomy should you be able to detect?
Coronoid process Condyle head and neck Ramus, body and angle Mental foramen Symphysis and parasymphysis Hard palate Floor and post. wall of maxillary sinus Zygomatic buttress Mandibular canal Sigmoid notch
