An irreplaceable method of diagnosis in dentistry is the radiographic examination of the tooth. It allows you to identify the true causes of patient complaints, outline an effective treatment plan and monitor its outcome. To diagnose the condition of individual teeth, the doctor usually uses sighting images. He gets an idea of the anatomical structure of the tooth, the condition of all its internal elements, the presence of an inflammatory process both in the tooth itself and in the vicinity of the dental tissues. X-rays can be performed in a traditional or digital way, depending on the type of X-ray machine.
Indications for X-ray of the tooth. X-rays are used in the treatment of almost all diseases in therapeutic dentistry. It is often necessary even in ordinary caries and especially in cases of its complicated forms. A dentist in the treatment of tooth canals often prescribes x-rays 2-3 times, which allows him to assess the condition of the canals prior to treatment, the quality of their preparation for sealing, and, finally, the correctness of the filling. Based on the X-ray study, it is possible to exclude the existence of cysts or granulomas of the apical part of the tooth, assess the state of the tooth crown tissues, and also determine the position of the tooth roots, their size and the presence of curvature. Therefore, this study is indispensable in both orthopedic and surgical dentistry. It allows surgeons to correctly plan the course of the forthcoming operation and assess the likelihood of possible complications. In children, this method is used to determine the retina (teeth that can not normally be cut), the stage of resorption of the roots of the milk teeth and the stage of formation of the roots of permanent teeth, as well as the size of the unshaved tooth. The dentists are being sent to this examination
The study is performed on a radiographic dental unit.
Contraindications for radiography of the tooth. The patient receives a very small dose of radiation during the radiography of the tooth. However, this examination with caution is prescribed to pregnant women and young children. It should be borne in mind that the fetus is particularly sensitive to radiation in the first trimester of pregnancy.
What is an orthopantomogram and what is it for? Orthopantomogram (or "OPTG", "panoramic image of the dental system") is one of the types of diagnostic radiography. In dentistry., OPTG is key - many types of treatment can not be started without carrying out this method of diagnosis. Technically, it is carried out as follows: the beam source (X-ray tube) and its receiver (film or digital sensor "move around the object in question in opposite directions." As a result, the focus is a very limited part of the object of study, everything else is blurred. Panoramic pictures are taken with the help of orthopantomographs. Orthopantomographs can be different - film and digital. Film OPTG is almost a story, while "figure" takes up more and more space in modern dentistry. There is a common opinion about the harm of this type of study. In fact, the radiation volume of even a film orthopantomograph is such that you can take panoramic shots every day for a month without any appreciable harm to your health. And the radiation of digital devices is several times less than for film ones and the radiation dose received is much less than what you get, for example, with a two-hour flight.
Preparatory Actions for the Study
Radiographic examination of an individual tooth of special preparatory actions does not require, apart from removing removable prostheses, if any. Before the procedure, the patient is put on a special collar "Drape", which protects him from the undesirable effects of x-rays, and is seated in a chair. The X-ray lab installs a special sensor (visionograph) inside the mouth in the projection of the examined tooth and asks the patient to press it with his finger. Then he places the source of radiation opposite the test tooth and includes an X-ray machine. The procedure as a whole lasts only a few seconds.
When taking a panorama picture, the patient fixes the position of the head, resting his chin in a special place of the apparatus, around which the radiation source subsequently moves. In carrying out this procedure, the patient also needs to remove, if available, removable dentures and earrings, and he wears a special apron, which protects him from the undesirable effects of x-rays.
It should be noted that, contrary to the prevailing opinion, this examination is completely painless, does not cause unpleasant sensations. In addition, the amount of X-ray radiation with such a picture is safe.