The clinical value of X-ray images of the teeth and jaws

X-ray images of the teeth and jaws are required for a variety of diagnostic purposes to supplement a clinical examination, and are invaluable for providing pictorial information about the structures that cannot be examined with direct vision. They can be acquired using traditional film systems which produce analogue images, or using a variety of alternative image receptors which result in a digital image. Irrespective of the method of image acquisition they are utilised by the dental surgeon in order to benefit their patients’ management. us disease processes can affect the teeth and jaws, in addition to a range of developmental abnormalities. These can be classified according to a radiological sieve, which also includes artefactual and iatrogenic features. The key components of the classification are: developmental, inflammatory, traumatic, cystic, neoplastic, osteodystrophies and systemic disorders. aper will utilise examples of radiographic images of patients to illustrate components of this classification which are unique to the teeth and jaws.