ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the importance of obtaining proper skull radiographs and the possibility of producing diagnostic images of oral and maxillofacial structures with the use of nondental equipment. For dental purposes, it is always better to use a dental x-ray machine; however, diagnostic images can be produced with the use of medical x-ray machines and film/plates. Numerous oral anatomic structures overlap, therefore dental radiography is also very technique sensitive. Cassettes used for medical images limit their intraoral use to certain parts of the mandibles and maxillae. Dorsoven- tral views should be easier to obtain as the mandible naturally positions the head for this view, provided the mandible is normal and symmetrical. Open-mouth oblique projections with different orientations will expose the maxillary dentition in quasi parallel projection as well as possibly the mandibular dentition. In some conditions conventional 2D radiography cannot provide an accurate diagnosis.
