DH103 Dental Radiology Module 7 Quiz #5 - Key Terms and Definitions

What is a very important component of patient care

Image interpretation

Before the radiographer can inspect dental images adequately

A thorough understanding of the terminology and importance of interpretation is necessary

To offer an explanation

interpret

an explanation

interpretation

Image interpretation

An explanation of what is viewed on a dental image; the ability to read what is revealed by a dental image

Diagnosis

Identification of a disease by exam or analysis

Who is responsible for establishing a diagnosis

the doctor

Who is restricted, by law, from rendering a diagnosis

Dental assistants and dental hygienists

The dental professional should interpret all dental images

with the patient present

What is the densest and least radiolucent on a dental image

Porcelain

What is the least dense and most radiolucent on a dental image

Acrylic

Most common restorative material used in dentistry still today

Amalgam

Amalgam overhangs

Disrupt natural cleansing contours of the tooth

Traps food and plaque

Contributes to the boneloss

What appears as dense radiopacities w/ irregular borders

amalgam fragments

What appears see-through on an image

Stainless steal and chrome crowns

A thin radiopaque line outlines the prepared tooth

Cement

PFM crowns

The metal component appears completely radiopaque; the porcelain component appears less radiopaque

Acrylic is the least dense of all nonmetallic restorations so it appears

radiopaque or barely visible on a dental image

Base metals appear

radiopaque

metallic pins appear

cylindrical/screw-shaped radiopacities

What appears radiopaque on x-rays

Gutta percha

Base metals

Silver points (very radiopaque)

Ortho brackets

Implant materials

Should all dentures and or partials be removed before taking dental x-rays

Yes

Jewelry can

render and obscure important information on a dental x-ray

Incipient class 1 lesion

is seen only in enamel

Moderate interproximal caries

Extend more than halfway through enamel but does not involve the DEJ

Advanced interproximal caries

Affects both enamel and dentin

Severe interproximal caries

Involves both enamel and dentin and may appear clinically as a cavitation in the tooth

Early occlusal caries

are difficult to see on a dental image

Alveolar crest of anterior teeth

pointed and sharp; appears radiopaque

Alveolar crest of posterior teeth

flat and smooth' parallel to a line between adjacent CEJ's; less radiopaque than anterior teeth

Periodontal disease

affects the supportive tissue of the teeth

Image of choice for the evaluation of periodontal disease

Periapicals

Paralleling technique

preferred exposure method for demonstrating anatomic features of periodontal disease

Why can x-rays not be used to diagnose periodontal disease

does not provide information about soft tissue or early bone changes

Horizontal bone loss

loss occurs in a plane parallel to the CEJ's of adjacent teeth

Vertical bone loss

Loss does not occur in a plane parallel to the CEJ's of adjacent teeth; angular bone loss

Localized

Occurs in isolated areas (<30% involvement)

Generalized

Occurs evenly throughout the dental arches (<30% involvement)

Clinical attachment loss (CAL)

Distance in mm from the CEJ to the base of the sulcus or periodontal pocket

Gingivitis

No change seen in bone on a dental image

What is important in the management and treatment of periodontal disease

Elimination

Trauma can result in injuries such as

Intrusion

Extrusion

Avulsion

Whenever a fracture is evident or suspected

image examination of the injured area is necessary

Most crown fractures result from

falling or a motor vehicle

What is the best film for visualizing mandibular fractures

Panoramic images

Luxation

intrusion (Pushing in of teeth)

or extrusion (Tooth pushed down/out)

Physical resorption

Seen w/ the normal shedding of primary teeth

Pathological resorption

Regressive alteration of tooth structure observed when a tooth is subjected to abnormal stimuli (ortho)

External resorption is often associated with

Reimplanted teeth

Abnormal mechanical forces (ortho)

Trauma

Chronic inflammation

Tumors and cysts

Impacted teeth

Idiopathic causes

External resorption often involved in apices of teeth

Apex appears blunted

Root is shorter than normal

Internal resorption

Involves pulp chamber, pulp canals, and surrounding dentin

Dental images may detect

pulp sclerosis

Pulp obliteration

Pulp stones

What may act as pulpal irritants and stimulate the production of secondary dentin that results in obliteration of the pulp cavity

Attrition

Abrasion

Caries

Dental restorations

Trauma

Abnormal mechanical forces

Teeth are

Nonvital, do not require treatment

Pulp stones appear on a dental image as

round, ovoid, or cylindrical radiopacities

Periapical radiolucencies

granuloma, cyst, abscess

Periapical cysts

Most common of all tooth-related cysts 50% to 70% of all cysts in the oral region

Chronic periapical abcess

Usually asymptomatic