Intra-Oral Radiographic Anatomical Landmarks

Write short note on radiopaque anatomical landmarks seen in intraoral periapical radiography.
Answer.

Radiopaque anatomical landmarks seen in intraoral periapical radiography are:

Radiopaque normal teeth anatomy in maxilla and mandible

Radiopaque-supporting structures

intraoral radiographic landmarks

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Radiopaque bony anatomical landmarks in maxilla

anatomical landmarks in dental radiographs

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Radiopaque bony anatomical landmarks in mandible

intraoral periapical radiograph landmarks

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Radiopaque Normal Teeth Anatomy in Maxilla and Mandible

Enamel: This is the densest structure. It is seen as the outer most radiopaque layer of the crown of a tooth on the radiograph.
Dentin: It is found beneath the enamel layer and surrounds the pulp. It is less radiopaque than enamel.
Cementum: It is not usually apparent on the radiograph because the cementum layer is very thin.

radiographic anatomy in dentistry

Radiopaque supporting structures

Lamina dura: This is the wall oftooth socket that surrounds the teeth, it is made up of dense cortical bone. It appears as a thin dense radiopaque line that surrounds the root of the tooth.
Alveolar crest: This is the most coronal portion of the alveolar bone found between the teeth. It appears as a radiopaque area located 1.5 to 2 cm below the junction of the crown and the root surfaces.

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oral radiographic anatomical landmarks

Cancellous bone: This is soft spongy bone located between two layers of dense cortical bone. It is composed of numerous bony trabeculae. On radiograph, the cancellous bone appears as predominantly radiolucent with the trabeculae appearing radiopaque in a criss-cross pattern.

Radiopaque Bony Landmarks of Maxilla

Nasal septum: It is a vertical bony wall or partition that divides the nasal cavity into the right and lef nasal fossa. It appears as a vertical radiopaque partition that divides the nasal cavity.
Anterior nasal spine: V-shaped radiopaque area located at the intersection of the flor of the nasal cavity and nasal septum.
Floor of the nasal cavity: Appear as dense radiopaque band above the maxillary incisors.
Inferior nasal conchae: A diffse radiopaque mass or projection within the nasal cavity.
Nasolabial fold: It is an oblique line demarcating a region that appears to be covered by a veil of slight radiopacity which is seen in premolar region. Line of contrast is sharp and area of increased radiopacity is posterior to the line. Line is the nasolabial fold and veil is thick cheek tissue superimposed on teeth and alveolar process.

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intraoral X-ray features

Floor of maxillary sinus: A radiopaque line appears at above the apices of maxillary molars is indicative of flor of maxillary sinus.
Septa in maxillary sinus: Boney projection or partition which appear to divide the sinus in compartments.
Inverted-Y in maxillary sinus: It is the intersection of maxillary sinus and nasal cavity. It appears as radiopaque upside down Y formed due to intersection of flor of nasal fossa and anterior border of maxillary sinus.
Zygomatic process of maxilla: “J” or “U” shaped radiopacity located superior to the maxillary fist molar region.
Zygoma: A diffuse radiopaque band extending posteriorly form the zygomatic process of the maxilla.

periapical X-ray interpretation

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Pterygoid plates: A single radiopaque homogeneous shadow immediately posterior to the tuberosity of the maxilla.
Hamular plates: It is a small hook-like projection of bone extending from the medial pterygoid plate of the sphenoid bone.
Maxillary tuberosity: This is a rounded prominence of bone which extends posterior to the third molar region. On radiograph, it appears as a radiopaque bulge posterior to the third molar region.

Radiopaque Bony Landmarks of Mandible

Genial tubercles: These are tiny bumps of bone on the lingual side of the mandible in mid line and serve as attchmentforthe genioglossus and the geniohyoid muscle. Radiographically appear as ring-shaped radiopacities below the apices of the mandibular incisors.
Mental ridge: This is a linear prominence of cortical bony plate, located on external surface of the anterior portion of the mandible. It appear as a thick radiopaque band that extends from premolar to incisor region.
Mylohyoid ridge: This is a linear prominence of the bone located on the internal surface of the mandible, extending from molar region downwards and forward towards the lower border of the mandibular symphysis.

IOPA film anatomy

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External oblique ridge: It appears as a radiopaque band extending downwards and forwards from the anterior border of the ramus of the mandible.
Inferior border of the mandible: It appears as a dense radiopaque band of bone in the lower border of the mandible.
Coronoid process: It is a marked prominence of bone on the anterior ramus of the mandible. On radiograph, it appears as triangular radiopacity superimposed over or inferior to the maxillary tuberosity region.
Internal oblique ridge: On radiograph, it appear as a radiopaque band which extend downward and forward from the ramus.

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