NORMAL RADIOGRAPHIC DENTAL ANATOMY

• the gingival margin of the alveolar process that extends between the teeth is apparent on radiographs as radiopaque line


  Alveolar Crest
• It is a thin radiopaque layer of dense bone surrounding the tooth socket. it is thicker than the surrounding trabecular bone.

  Lamina Dura
• compact bone that surrounds the root of the tooth

  lamina dura
• Provides attachment to PDL

  Lamina dura
• In lamina dura, change in density ( periodontal) , breakage of continuity lamina dura (periapical lesion), thickening of lamina dura ( increased occlusal stress)
• primarily composed of collagen, so it appears as a radiolucent space between tooth root and lamina dura.

  Periodontal Ligament Space
• Periodontal Ligament Space:

  Widen - perio problem, mobility

  Narrow- ankylosis
• it lies between the cortical plates in both the jaws. It is composed of thin radiopaque plates and rods surrounding many small radiolucent marrow spaces.

  Cancellous Bone
• Cancellous bone: Increase in density suggests osteoporosis
• LANDMARKS OF THE MAXILLA

  ● Median palatine suture

  ● Nasal fossa

  ● Nasal septum

  ● Anterior nasal sine

  ● Incisive foramen

  ● Lateral fossa

  ● Maxillary sinus

  ● Malar bone

  ● Maxillary tuberosity

  ● Hamular process

  ● Nasolacrimal duct
• appear as a radiolucent line extending posteriorly from the alveolar border in the sagittal plane of the maxilla

  Median Palatine Suture
• paired fossae appear as somewhat elliptical radiolucent areas separated by a radiopaque band representing the nasal septum

  Nasal Fossa
• nasal cavity is radiolucent
• seen as a white ridge extending above and between the central incisors

  • divides nasal fossae.

  Nasal Septum
• appears as a V-shaped radiopaque structure in the midline above the incisive foramen

  Anterior Nasal Spine
• seen as a dark area located between and extending above the central incisors

  Incisive Foramen
• results from a depression above and posterior to the lateral incisor

  Lateral fossa
• the maxillary sinus with its thin bony walls, its thin mucosa, and its vast air space, produce an extremely dark image deep to the maxillary teeth

  Maxillary Sinus
• other name of maxillary sinus

  antrum of highmore
• membrane that line maxillary sinus

  Pseudostratified columnar epithelium or schneiderian membrane
• expansion of the sinus wall to the surrounding bone, usually in area where the tooth/teeth are lost prematurely

  Maxillary sinus pneumatization
• appears as a U-shaped well-defined radiopaque area that may be superimposed over the molar roots

  Malar Bone
• Other name of malar bone

  zygomatic process
• convex distal inferior border of the maxilla, curving upward from the alveolar process and distal of the third molar

  Maxillary Tuberosity
• a radiopaque spine distal to the maxillary tuberosity which extends downward.

  Hamular Process
• a radiopaque structure near the maxillary molar area

  Coronoid Process
• is seen on occlusal view of the maxilla as a round radiolucent area superimposed on the posterior region of the hard palate

  Nasolacrimal Duct
• LANDMARKS OF THE MANDIBLE

  ● Lingual foramen

  ● Genial tubercule

  ● Mental ridge

  ● Mental foramen

  ● Mental fossa

  ● External oblique ridge

  ● Mylohyoid ridge

  ● Mandibular foramen

  ● Mandibular canal

  ● Submandibular gland fossa

  ● Nutrient canals
• radiolucent hole in the center of genial tubercles

  Lingual Foramen
• appear as radiopaque circles that surrounds the lingual foramen just below the apices of the incisors

  Genial Tubercle
• a bony prominence found on the labial aspect of the mandible near its inferior border and extended from the premolar region to the symphysis area

  Mental Ridge
• this represents the depression on the labial aspect of the mandible overlying the roots of Incisors

  Mental Fossa
• it appears as a radiolucent ill-defined area between the apices of bicuspids.

  Mental Foramen
• white line of variable density extending into the molar region as a continuation of the anterior border of the ramus of the mandible


  External Oblique Ridge
• white line of varying width and in density, extending from close to the lower border of the symphysis of the mandible, upward and distally, to end beyond the third molar

  Mylohyoid Line
• seen on extraoral mandibular films as a dark area near the middle of the mandibular ramus

  Mandibular Foramen
• tube like passage extending from the mandibular foramen to the mental foramen containing inferior alveolar nerve

  Mandibular Canal
• depression on the lingual aspect of the mandible on which submandibular glands are present.

  Submandibular Gland Fossa
• most often seen in persons with thin bone, those with high blood pressure, or advanced periodontitis

  Nutrient Canals