Radiology Chapter 32: Identification of restorations, dental materials, and foreign objects

Types of restorations

1. Metallic - radiopaque

- > Eg. amalgam, gold, metal crowns

2. Nonmetallic - varying shades of radiolucency

- > Eg. composites, bases, veneers

Amalgam restorations

Completely opaque

- One surface amalgam - B,L,O, I

- Multisurface - MO, MOD, ML, OL

- Overhangs

- Amalgam fragments

Amalgam examples

- Overhang and amalgam fragments

Gold restorations

Radiopaque

- Gold crowns and bridges

- Gold inlays and onlays

- Gold foil restorations - usually occlusals or cervical

Gold crowns, amalgams example

Gold restorations examples

- Gold crowns and amalgam restorations and onlay

Stainless steel crowns

- Prefabricated metal crowns usually seen in children

- Radiopaque but not as dense as an amalgam or gold

- > Sometimes may be able to see thru to tooth

Post and core

- Metallic post and core that is cast at the lab

- Then seated in the root canal system and coronally to support tooth structure

Porcelain restorations

- Varying shades of radiopacity

- > Halo

- Many have a metal substructure

- Some crowns can be all porcelain

Porcelain crowns

- Porcelain-Fused-to-metal (PFM)

Restorative material - Fixed partial dentures/bridge

- Pontic = Missing tooth

- Abutment = Crowned supporting teeth

Comosites

- Varying shades of radiolucency depending on material

- Can sometimes mimic decay

- > Older

Composites examples

Dental materials

- Bases - underneath fillings, or as a temporary filling material-protect pulp

- > Varying shades of radiodensity

Radiopaque materials

- Metallic pins: for severely broken down teeth used for retention of filling

- > Radiopaque

- Gutta percha: RC filling material

- > Very radiopaque

- Silver points: RC filling material rarely used anymore

Retention pins

Crown, amalgam, crown, cast post, gutta percha, and silver points location

Other

- Orthodontic bands and arch wires

- Oral surgery implants

- Jewelry

- Eyeglasses

- Dentures, or RPD