Dental Radiography and Anatomical Landmarks

Flashcards covering radiopaque and radiolucent definitions, anatomical landmarks of the maxilla and mandible, mounting techniques, and digital radiography terminology.

Radiopaque

Denser structures that absorb more X-rays, resulting in lighter or whiter regions on the image, such as bones and enamel.

Radiolucent

Areas that allow X-rays to pass through more easily, creating darker areas on the radiograph, such as pulp, cysts, or lesions.

Embossed Dot

A dot on the film packet used to determine orientation; it should face the x-ray beam and is placed toward the incisal or occlusal surface.

Curve of Spee

The anatomic curve established by the occlusal alignment of the teeth; it appears as an upward curve or "smile" on a mount.

Lingual Mounting

A mounting method where the depressed dot faces the viewer, appearing as if the radiographer were inside the client's mouth looking out; not recommended.

Labial/Facial Mounting

The CDA-recommended mounting method where the raised dot faces the viewer, appearing as if the radiographer were looking directly at the client.

Maxillary Molars

Teeth located in the upper jaw that typically have $3$ roots.

Mandibular Molars

Teeth located in the lower jaw that typically have $2$ roots.

Inverted "Y"

A radiopaque landmark seen in the canine and premolar area; it is the border where the lateral wall of the nasal fossa and the anterior, medial wall of the maxillary sinus meet.

Zygomatic process of the maxilla

A radiopaque landmark appearing as a broad U-shaped band seen above the roots of the 1st and 2nd molars.

Anterior nasal spine

A radiopaque V-shaped projection from the floor of the nasal fossa located in the midline.

Maxillary tuberosity

The rounded end of the alveolar process located behind the last maxillary molar.

Hamulus

A hook-shaped radiopaque projection located posterior to the maxillary tuberosity.

Genial tubercles

Four small bony crests appearing as a radiopaque donut at the midline below the apices of the mandibular central incisors.

Lingual foramen

A small circular radiolucent area, often appearing as the "donut hole" inside the genial tubercles, located in the mandibular central incisor area.

Mental ridge

A radiopaque band of bone on the labial aspect of the mandible extending from the premolar area toward the symphysis.

Mental foramen

A small circular radiolucent opening on the lateral side of the mandible body, usually seen near the apices of the premolars.

Mylohyoid ridge (internal oblique ridge)

A radiopaque line on the lingual surface of the mandible in the molar region, running parallel and below the external oblique ridge.

Submandibular fossa

A large, irregular radiolucent area below the mylohyoid ridge that may be mistaken for a lesion due to the thinness of the bone.

Median palatine suture

A thin radiolucent line delineating the midline of the palate, frequently seen between the central incisors.

Safe light

A filtered light used in a darkroom that should be placed $4\,ft$ away from the working surface, usually with a $15$ watt bulb.

Bit-depth

The number of possible gray-scale combinations for each pixel; 8-bit depth results in $256$ shades.

Charge coupled device (CCD)

A solid-state silicon chip detector found in a digital sensor.

Digital Subtraction

Reversing the gray scale where radiolucent areas appear white and radiopaque areas appear black.

Storage phosphor

An indirect digital imaging method where the image is recorded on a phosphor-coated plate (PSP) and then processed by a laser beam.