Intraoral Maxillary Anatomy

radiolucent structures

that interact (absorbed or scattered by the material.)‘ less with x-rays, meaning they let more X-rays pass through them

example of radiolucent structures

soft tissues and air lke

radiopaque structures

structures that interact more with x-rays

example of radiopaque structures

dental tissues, bone

enamel

1

dentin

2

pulp cavity (camber and canals)

3

cementum

4

alveolar crest

1

periodontal ligament space

2

lamina dura

3

alveolar bone

4

enamel

1

cortical bone

2

dentin

3

cement

4

alveolar bone

5

pulp chamber

6

canals

7

periodontal ligament space

8

enamel description

densest structure found in the human body

enamel radiographic

outermost radiopaque layer of the crown of a tooth on maxiallary 

dentin description

-is found beneath the enamel layer of a tooth and surrounds the pulp cavity

-makes up the majority of the tooth structure

dentin radiographic informaion 

appears radiopaque, but not as radiopaque as enamel

cementum description informaion 

is not usually apparent radiographically because the contrast between it and dentin is so low and the cementum layer is so thin

hypercementosis

pulp chamber and root canals description

contains blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics

pulp chamber and root canals radiographic informaion 

appears relatively radiolucent

periodontal ligament space description

-space between the root of the tooth and the lamina dura

-contains connective tissue fibers, blood vessels, and lymphatic ducts

periodontal ligament radiographic informaion 

-a thin radiolucent line around the root of a tooth

-in the healthy periodontium: continuous radiolucent line of uniform thickness

lamina dura description

-wall of the tooth socket that surrounds the root of a tooth

-made up of dense cortical bone

lamina dura radiographic informatipn

dense radiopaque line that surrounds the root of a tooth

alveolar crest description

-most coronal portion of alveolar bone found between teeth

-made up of dense cortical bone and is continuous with the lamina dura

alveolar crest radiographic infomation

appears radiopaque and is typically located 1.5 to 2mm below the junction of the crown and the root surfaces (the cemento-enamel junction)

alveolar bone description

supports and encases the roots of teeth

alveolar bone radiographic informaion 

trabeculae and medullary spaces

trabeculae informaion 

radiographic line

medullary spaces informaion 

radiolucent areas

dense cortical bone

1

trabeculae

2

medullary spaces

3

dental papilla space radiogrpahic informaion 

radiolucent region at the apex of teeth in formation

dental follicle space radiographic informaion 

radiolucent area between the crown of an unerupted tooth and the surrounding bone

intermaxillary suture description

suture present between the palatine processes and the anterior portion of the maxilla

intermaxillary suture radiographic appearance informaion 

radiolucent line, in the midline, between the central incisors

incisive foramen description

exit of the nasopalatine canal

incisive foramen radiographic informaion 

ovoid radiolucency, often with diffuse borders

nasal cavity-nasal fossae description

bone cavities filled with air divided by the nasal septum

nasal cavity-nasal fossae radiographic informaion 

radiolucent area

inferior nasal conchae description

wafer-thin, curved plates of bone that extend from the lateral walls of the nasal cavity

inferior nasal conchae radiographic informaion 

radiopaque structure extending from the lateral walls of the nasal cavity

nasal septum description

divides the nasal cavity into two fossae

nasal septum radiographic informaion 

vertical radiopaque structure

floor of the nasal cavity radiographic

radiopaque line located in the lower portion of the nasal cavity (in the projection of incisors and canines)

anterior nasal spine description

bony projection formed by the fusion of the two maxillary bones at the intermaxillary suture

anterior nasal spine radiographic

radiopaque V-shaped line

tip of the nose

upper lips

naso-labial fold

lateral fossa radiographic

radiolucent area located between the canine and the lateral incisor

maxillary tuberosity description

the most posterior region of the alveolar process of the maxilla

maxillary tuberosity radiographic

bone radiopacity

pterygoid hamulus description

hook-like process at the lower part of the medial pterygoid plate of the sphenoid bone

pterygoid hamulus radiographic

radiopaque hook-like image

maxillary sinus radiographic

wide radiolucent area bounded by a radiopaque line

floor of the maxillary sinus radiographic informaion 

thin radiopaque line located in the lower portion of the maxillary sinus

alveolar extension of the maxillary sinus pneumatization radiographic information

radiolucent areas that extend towards the alveolar ridge

tuberosity extension of the maxillary sinus radiographic informaion 

radiolucent areas that extend towards the maxillary tuberosity

anterior extension of the maxillary sinus radiographic informaion 

radiolucent areas that extend anteriorly

Y line of Ennis (inverted Y) description

superimposition of the floor of the nasal fossa and the anterior border of the maxillary sinus

Y line of Ennis radiographic informaion 

radiopaque line in inverted "Y" format

more x-rays of Y line of Ennis

nutrient canals

anatomic structures of the alveolar bone through which neurovascular elements transit

zygomatic process of maxilla description

bony projection of the maxilla that articulates with the zygomatic bone

zygomatic process of maxilla radiographic information

J-shaped or U-shaped radiopacity located superior to the maxillary first molar region

zygomatic bone description

-articulates with the zygomatic process of the maxilla

-is composed of dense cortical bone

zygomatic bone radiographic informaion 

appears as a diffuse radiopaque band extending posteriorly from the zygomatic process of the maxilla

coronoid process of the mandible description

marked prominence of bone on the anterior ramus of the mandible

coronoid process of the mandible radiographic informaion 

triangular radiopacity superimposed over, or inferior to, the maxillary tuberosity region