Your patient is viewing her bite-wing images and has noticed the small radiopaque pieces on the interproximal surfaces below the contacts of some of her teeth.What is she looking at?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Calculus appears radiopaque on a dental image.Calculus varies in appearances on dental images;it most often appears as pointed or irregular radiopaque projections.The normal healthy alveolar crest is located approximately 1.5 to 2.0 mm apical to the cemento-enamel junctions (CEJs)of adjacent teeth.In the anterior regions,the alveolar crest appears pointed and sharp and is normally very radiopaque.In the posterior regions,the alveolar crest appears flat,smooth,and parallel to a line between adjacent CEJs.The CEJ is located at the junction between the enamel and the cementum.Composite restorations can appear either radiopaque or radiolucent and should not extend past the interproximal surface.

Your Patient Is Viewing Her Bite-Wing Images and Has Noticed