Common Dental X-Rays: What Your Dentist Is Looking For
- MedReport Foundation
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Introduction:
Dental X-rays are an important part of dental care because they help dentists see areas that are not visible during a regular exam (1). Many dental problems begin in hidden areas, such as between teeth, under old fillings or crowns, or around tooth roots (2). Dental radiograph can help dentists detect cavities, bone loss, infections, impacted teeth, tartar buildup, abscesses, and other conditions earlier than a visual exam alone (2).
Bitewing X-Rays
Figure 1. Bitewing X-ray showing the crowns of the upper and lower back molars (3).
Bitewing X-rays are one of the most common types of dental X-rays taken during routine dental checkups. Dentists use bitewing X-rays to check for cavities between teeth and below the gumline (2). They can also be used to diagnose bone loss around each tooth, as well as check the status and quality of existing restorations and crowns (2,3).
Periapical X-Rays
Figure 2. Periapical X-ray showing the full tooth, including the crown, root, and surrounding
bone (3).
Periapical X-rays, often known as “PA”, show the entire tooth from the crown to the tip of the
root. They also show the bone level around each tooth and the surrounding bone around the root. Unlike bitewings, a PA focuses on a specific tooth or small area and gives a more complete view of the tooth and root (3). Dentists usually request a PA when a patient has tooth pain, deep decay, or signs of infections (4).
Full Mouth X-Rays
Figure 3. Full-mouth X-rays showing multiple bitewing and periapical radiographs (3).
Full mouth X-rays, also known as an “FMX”, is a set of multiple dental X-rays, including several periapical and bitewing radiographs. These radiographs together give the dentist a detailed view of all the teeth. An FMX is usually taken for new patients, or patients who need a more complete diagnosis (3).
Panoramic X-Rays
Figure 4. Panoramic X-ray showing view of the teeth, jaws, TMJ, and sinus cavity (5).
Panoramic X-rays, often called a “Pano”, gives the dentist a wide view of the entire mouth. It not only shows the teeth, but also captures the jaws, TMJ, and the sinus cavity (5). Dentists
commonly use panoramic X-rays to evaluate wisdom teeth, impacted or missing teeth, and
overall bone structure (6). Because a pano shows the mouth as a whole, it can help dentists
identify problems that may not be obvious from smaller X-rays. Pano is especially helpful when planning extractions or evaluating a patient’s tooth position.
Cone-Beam CT
Figure 5. CBCT showing coronal (front), sagittal (side), and axial (top-down) views of the teeth. Bottom right is a 3D reconstruction of the teeth and jaw for diagnosis (7). Cone-beam computed tomography, or CBCT, is a type of three-dimensional dental imaging that can provide images of the teeth, soft tissues, nerve pathways, and bone in one scan (8). This type of imaging is not usually needed for a regular checkup, but it can be very helpful for more complex dental cases, such as implant planning, TMJ evaluation, jaw and sinus assessment, or determining bone structure and tooth position (8).
References
1. American Dental Association. X-rays/Radiographs. ADA Oral Health Topics. Available
2. Cleveland Clinic. Dental X-rays: Purpose & Types. Last updated August 16, 2025.
3. Love That Smile. Types of dental X-rays. Available from:
https://lovethatsmile.com/dental-articles/types-of-x-rays/ (Source for figure 1,2,3)
4. University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry. Periapical X-rays. Available from:
5. Mint Hill Dentistry. What exactly is a panoramic X-ray? Mint Hill Dentistry. Available
from: https://www.minthilldentistry.com/panoramic-x-ray (Source for figure 4)
6. RadiologyInfo.org. Panoramic Dental X-ray. Radiological Society of North America;
American College of Radiology. Updated September 9, 2024. Available from:
7. Mercy Dental Group. CBCT Technology. Mercy Dental Group. Available from:
https://www.mercydentists.com/our-technology/cbct-technology (Source for figure 5)
8. RadiologyInfo.org. Dental Cone Beam CT. Radiological Society of North America;
American College of Radiology. Last reviewed March 19, 2024. Available from:
