Tandröntgen

Tandröntgen, or dental radiography, is the medical imaging of teeth, jaws, and surrounding structures using X-rays. It covers several techniques that provide different views and levels of detail. Common methods include bitewing radiographs, which show crowns and the tops of the supporting bone between adjacent teeth; periapical radiographs, which image a tooth from crown to root tip; and panoramic radiographs, which capture a broad view of the upper and lower jaws. Occlusal radiographs and, increasingly, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) offer additional perspectives and three-dimensional information.

Technique and safety often involve a small X-ray unit, a detector or film, and careful patient positioning. Digital sensors are widely used, offering quicker results and lower radiation exposure than traditional film. Protective measures such as lead aprons and thyroid collars are standard, and imaging is justified by clinical need under the ALARA principle (as low as reasonably achievable).

Indications for tandröntgen include detection of dental caries, assessment of bone levels for periodontal disease, evaluation of tooth development and eruption in children, planning and monitoring endodontic treatments, assessment after trauma, implant planning, and identification of impacted or supernumerary teeth. CBCT provides 3D visualization for complex cases but typically involves higher radiation doses and is used when two-dimensional imaging is insufficient.

History and development trace from the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Röntgen in 1895 to early dental use in the 20th century, with digital radiography and CBCT becoming common in recent decades. Modern tandröntgen emphasizes diagnostic value balanced with patient safety.