Digital Extraoral X-Rays

Digital extraoral x-rays are typically taken to see problems with the jaw or the skull.

These X-rays are not as detailed as intraoral x-rays but are good for identifying impacted teeth, development of the jaw and help diagnose TMJ disorder.

 

The different types of extraoral x-rays are:

• Panoramic x-rays
  • Used to image the entire mouth. Typically used to detect the position of fully emerged teeth as well as find emerging teeth.
• Tomograms
  • With tomography structures in the focal plane appear sharp while everything around them is blurred. It is typically used for dealing with particular layers of the mouth.
• Cephalometric projections
  • These x-rays show one entire side of a head. These are helpful for profile shots and can help determine how teeth are in relation to the jaw.
• Sialography
  • A process that involves injecting a dye into the salivary glands so that they are visible on x-ray film. This is only used to look for gland issues.