Occlusal Radiograph
Pronunciation: uh-KLOO-zul RAY-dee-oh-graf
A type of intraoral dental X-ray in which the film or sensor is held between the occlusal surfaces of the teeth, used to image the palate, floor of mouth, or the positions of unerupted teeth.
Full Definition
An occlusal radiograph is an intraoral projection in which a large receptor is placed horizontally in the mouth and bitten down upon, allowing imaging of a wider area than periapical films. In orthodontics, upper standard and upper oblique occlusal views are used to localise palatal canines, assess supernumerary teeth, and evaluate midline pathology. Editors must distinguish this from the 'occlusal plane' (a positional reference in cephalometrics) and from 'OPG' (which is an extraoral panoramic view). The term should always be written as two words without a hyphen.
Usage
Usage note: Do not hyphenate. Distinguish carefully from 'occlusal plane', which is a cephalometric landmark, not a radiograph type.
In Context
- "An upper oblique occlusal radiograph confirmed the palatal canine lay mesial to the upper lateral incisor root." — Orthodontic assessment report
- "The editor noted that 'occlusal X-ray' in the patient letter should be rendered as the standard clinical term 'occlusal radiograph'." — Patient correspondence review