Radiology Flashcards
(136 cards)
What is the focal trough?
Image layer –> the cross section of the tomograph that’s in focus (mandible and maxilla)
Indications for panoramic radiograph
- Evaluation of third molars
- Evaluation of trauma
- Evaluation of large lesions
- Inability to visualize the entire lesion on smaller film
- Generalized disease (diseases affecting jaw bone)
- Intolerance to intraoral films
- Assessment for surgical procedures (implants, TMJ disorders, craniofacial anomalies)
Advantages of panoramic radiographs
- Well tolerated by patients
- Minimal time of exposure when compared to FMS
- Easy technique
- Broad anatomical coverage
- Relatively low patient dose
- Useful for patient education (secondary to diagnostic purpose)
Disadvantages of panoramic radiographs
- Lower resolution than intraoral film (decreased detail)
- Only objects in the focal trough can be clearly seen
- Distortion
a) overlapping teeth
b) magnification and minification (we can’t use it to get accurate measurements of structures)
c) objects outside of the focal trough will appear blurred
How panoramic radiographs work?
Utilizes principles of scanography:
- slit-shaped collimator is used to produce a thin moving beam of x-rays that scan different parts of an object onto a moving film/receptor
Utilizes principles of tomography:
- imaging of a layer or section of the body by intentionally blurring images of structures in other planes
- during exposure, the x-ray source and film move in synchronized movement parallel to each other in opposite directions
Position of panoramic x-ray tubehead
Negative angle (approximately - 10”) to allow beam to pass under the occipital bone
of collimators for panoramic x-ray
2 collimators:
- 1st at the source - 2nd between the image receptor and object
Type of collimators used in intraoral x-ray units
- Round or rectangular x-ray collimator
- Projected beam slightly larger than the receptor
Thickness of focal trough
- Anterior teeth is thin, while posterior is thick.
- Key: thicker focal trough, more tolerant of slight changes in positioning (better for posteriors than anteriors)
Center of rotation principle as used by Panorex machine
COR would create two arcs, halfway through the process the patient would shift over
of COR
Divides the arch into 3 segments:
- Condyle to 1st premolar
- Canine to canine
- Contralateral condyle to 1st premolar
Appearance of structures outside focal trough
Blurred
Appearance of structures within focal trough
Clear
Position of the patient during panoramic radiograph
- Patient needs to be relatively still to minimize distortion
- Bite block is there to position dental arches in correct spot when machine takes radiograph (central incisors bite on this)
- special chin rest for edentulous patient
How will structures appear when placed closer to film during panoramic radiograph?
Smaller and more clear
How structures appear when placed farther from the film during panoramic radiograph?
Projected image gets magnified
Correct way to position the aprons during a panoramic radiograph
High in front, low in back
Position of tongue while panoramic radiograph is being taken
Tongue has to be kept against the hard palate to reduce the glossopharyngeal airspace.
Proper appearance of occlusal plane on a panoramic radiograph.
Should look like a smile line.
What happened during panoramic x-ray: anterior teeth look big and wide?
Patient was positioned too far back.
What happened during panoramic x-ray: anterior teeth look small and narrow?
Patient was positioned too far forward.
Position of anterior midline/midsagital plane in panoramic radiograph…
Centered and perpendicular to the floor
Position of posterior midline in panoramic radiograph…
Combination of the two ends of the radiograph.
What are real/true images?
- Single images
- Double images
Formed when the object is radiographed between the COR and the film.