Periapical Radiograph
Definition
A dental radiograph showing the full length of one to three teeth, including roots and surrounding bone, from crown to apex. The primary diagnostic radiograph in clinical dentistry and the most direct AM-to-PM comparison format.
- Coverage
- One to three teeth per image
- Shows
- Full tooth from crown to root apex plus surrounding bone
- Primary clinical use
- Routine diagnostic dental imaging
- Forensic use
- Direct antemortem-to-postmortem dental comparison
Common questions
Why are periapical radiographs preferred for AM-PM comparison over panoramic films?+
Their higher resolution and full-root visibility capture fine details like root canal fillings, apex shape, and periodontal ligament space that panoramic images compress or lose, making feature-by-feature matching more reliable.
What can make a periapical radiograph comparison unreliable?+
Differences in the angle at which the two radiographs were taken can distort tooth proportions between the antemortem and postmortem images, so examiners account for projection geometry before declaring a match or exclusion.
Are periapical radiographs useful when only postmortem remains are available?+
On their own they establish dental status and pathology, but identification requires a comparable antemortem record from a dentist or clinic to compare against, without which they cannot confirm identity.
Related terms
- Bitewing Radiograph
- A radiograph showing the crowns and coronal thirds of the roots of upper and lower posterior teeth simultaneously, used to document interproximal...
- 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...