Dental Radiology - Image Interpretation, Descriptive Terminology, and Dental Restorations

Radiographic Interpretation

An explanation of what is viewed on a dental radiograph.

Diagnosis

The identification of a disease by examination or analysis, made exclusively by the dentist after a thorough review of medical and dental history, clinical examination, radiographic examination, and clinical or laboratory tests.

Documentation of Interpretation

The official recording of radiographic findings, including the date of exposure, number and type of images, evaluation of diagnostic quality, limitations/retakes, descriptions of teeth, supporting structures, and artifacts, and indications for further imaging.

Radiolucent

The dark or black portion of a radiograph resulting from structures that lack density and permit the passage of the x-ray beam with little or no resistance.

Radiopaque

The light or white portion of a radiograph resulting from dense structures that resist or absorb the passage of the x-ray beam.

Unilocular Radiolucent Lesion

A radiolucent lesion that exhibits only one single compartment; typically small and nonexpansive.

Corticated Border

An outer layer or border of a radiolucent lesion exhibiting a thin, well-demarcated radiopaque rim of bone at the periphery; usually indicates a benign, slow-growing process.

Noncorticated Border

A lesion periphery that does not show a radiopaque border, appearing fuzzy, indistinct, and poorly defined; may represent benign or malignant conditions.

Multilocular Radiolucent Lesion

A radiolucent lesion exhibiting multiple compartments, which is typically larger, expansile, displaces buccal and lingual cortical plates, and can show aggressive growth (e.g., odontogenic keratocyst, ameloblastoma, central giant cell granuloma).

Moth-Eaten Pattern

An irregular, ragged, ill-defined radiolucency showing destructive bone loss, associated with osteomyelitis, metastatic carcinoma, osteosarcoma, or multiple myeloma.

Multifocal Pattern

A pattern featuring multiple separate lesions occurring in different areas across the jaw, seen in basal cell nevus syndrome, cherubism, multiple myeloma, or periapical cemental dysplasia.

Widening of the Periodontal Ligament Space

An abnormal enlargement of the radiolucent space between the root and lamina dura, seen in periodontal inflammation, endodontic inflammation, scleroderma, or osteosarcoma.

Periapical Location

The anatomical region surrounding the apex of a tooth root.

Inter-radicular Location

The area located in the bone between the roots of adjacent teeth.

Edentulous Zone

An area of the jaw where teeth are no longer present.

Pericoronal Location

The anatomical region immediately surrounding the crown of an impacted or unerupted tooth.

Focal Opacity

A well-defined, localized, individual radiopaque area of uniform density.

Target Lesion

A localized, well-defined radiopaque area surrounded by a distinct, uniform radiolucent rim or halo.

Multifocal Confluent

Multiple radiopacities that overlap, merge, or flow together to form a larger, coalescing lesion.

Irregular Ill-Defined Radiopacity

A radiopaque appearance with poorly defined, ragged margins that represents poorly organized or abnormal bone formation.

Ground Glass Appearance

A granular, orange-peel-like radiopacity resembling finely stippled or crushed glass, reflecting altered trabecular bone patterns.

Mixed Lucent-Opaque Lesion

A lesion demonstrating both radiolucent and radiopaque components, which represents varying stages of calcification and mineralization.

Soft Tissue Opacity

A radiopaque calcification located within noncalcified soft tissues, such as salivary glands or lymph nodes.

Metallic Restorations

Restorations made of metal (e.g., amalgam, gold) that absorb all or nearly all x-rays, causing them to appear completely radiopaque on a radiograph.

Nonmetallic Restorations

Restorative materials such as porcelain, composite, or acrylic that vary from radiolucent to slightly radiopaque based on density and composition.

Amalgam Overhang

An extension of amalgam restoration beyond the crown margin into the interproximal region due to improper placement or wedging.

Amalgam Fragments

Small, dense, completely radiopaque splinters of amalgam accidentally displaced into the surrounding soft tissue or bone during restorative