Bitewing Radiograph
Definition
A radiograph showing the crowns and coronal thirds of the roots of upper and lower posterior teeth simultaneously, used to document interproximal contact and restoration margins.
- Shows
- Crowns and coronal root thirds, upper and lower together
- Documents
- Interproximal contacts and restoration margins
- Tooth region
- Posterior teeth
- Field
- Forensic odontology, dental identification
Common questions
Why is a bitewing radiograph useful for identification compared to a full periapical film?+
A bitewing captures both jaws' posterior crowns and restorations in a single consistent view, which makes it well suited for comparing restoration outlines and interproximal wear patterns against antemortem records, since these features are often highly individual.
What limits a bitewing radiograph's use in postmortem identification?+
It does not show root apices or full root length, so it is less useful than a periapical or panoramic film for age estimation or root morphology comparison, and is best used alongside other radiograph types rather than alone.
Related terms
- Cone Beam CT (CBCT)
- A three-dimensional imaging modality producing volumetric data of the jaws at lower dose than medical CT. Allows multiplanar reconstruction and surface rendering...
- Digital Superimposition
- Computer-assisted alignment of two radiographic images to assess feature correspondence. Software adjusts size, rotation, and contrast to optimise overlay, and highlights matching...
- Frontal Sinus Comparison
- Identification method using the unique outline shape of the frontal sinus, visible on skull radiographs or CT, to compare AM and PM...
- Panoramic Radiograph (OPG)
- A wide-field tomographic image of the entire dentition and jaws on one film or sensor. Useful for overview but subject to magnification...
- Periapical Radiograph
- A dental radiograph showing the full length of one to three teeth, including roots and surrounding bone, from crown to apex. The...