Descriptive terminology

Question 1

what is descriptive terminology?

Answer 1

terms used to describe the appearance, location and size of a lesion
- this information should be documented for all lesions viewed on dental images

Question 2

why do we use descriptive terminology?

Answer 2

• allows dental professionals to describe and discuss what is seen on a dental radiograph intelligently and to communicate using a common language
• eliminates the chance for miscommunication amongst dental professionals
• allows for legal documentation that dental images were reviewed

Question 3

descriptive terminology vs diagnosis

Answer 3

• descriptive terminology allows the dental hygienist to describe what is seen on a radiograph without implying a diagnosis
• the patient’s medical and dental history, clinical findings, signs and symptoms, laboratory tests, and biopsy results all contribute for aiding the dentist to make a definitive diagnosis

Question 4

Radiograph vs x-ray

Answer 4

• radiograph is an image that is produced on photosensitive film by exposing the film to x-rays and then processing the film so that a negative is produced
• x-ray is a beam of energy that has the power to penetrate substances and to record shadow images on photographic film

Question 5

radiolucent vs radiopaque

Answer 5

• radiolucent: the portion of a processed radiograph that is dark or black
• radiopaque: the portion of a processed radiograph that appears light or white

Question 6

3 terms used to describe radiolucent lesions

Answer 6

• appearance
• location
• size

Question 7

what is a unilocular radiolucent lesion?

Answer 7

• one compartment
• tend to be small and nonexpansive
• have borders that may appear corticated or noncorticated on radiograph

Question 8

what is a unilocular lesion with corticated borders?

Answer 8

• the lesion exhibits a thin, well-demarcated radiopaque rim of bone at the periphery
• usually indicative of a benign, slow-growing process

Question 9

what is a unilocular lesion with noncorticated borders?

Answer 9

• the lesions does not exhibit a thin radiopaque rim of bone at the periphery
• the periphery appears fuzzy or poorly defined
• may represent either a benign or malignant process

Question 10

what is a multilocular radiolucent lesion?

Answer 10

• a lesion that exhibits multiple radiolucent compartments
• frequently expansive
• typically benign lesions with aggressive growth potential

Question 11

where can radiolucent lesions occur?

Answer 11

may appear in a periapical, inter-radicular, edentulous or pericoronal locations
- may appear as alveolar bone loss (i.e. periodontitis)

Question 12

what is a periapical location for a radiolucent lesion?

Answer 12

a lesion located around the apex of a tooth (ex. periapical cyst)

Question 13

what is an inter-radicular location for a radiolucent lesion?

Answer 13

a lesion located between the roots of adjacent teeth (ex. lateral periodontal cyst)

Question 14

what is an edentulous zone location for a radiolucent lesion?

Answer 14

a lesion located in an area without teeth

Question 15

what is a pericoronal location for a radiolucent lesion?

Answer 15

• a radiolucent lesion located around the crown of an impacted tooth (ex. dentigerous cyst)

Question 16

what is alveolar bone loss for a radiolucent lesion?

Answer 16

loss of bone in the mandible or maxilla that surrounds and supports the teeth (appears radiolucent such as periodontitis)

Question 17

define size for a radiolucent lesion

Answer 17

can vary in size from several millimetres in diameter to several centimetres in diameter. can be measure on a radiograph with a millimetre ruler

Question 18

appearances of radiopaque lesions

Answer 18

• can be described as focal opacity, target lesion, multifocal confluent, irregular, ground glass, or mixed Lucent-opaque
• radiopaque lesions occur not only in bone but in soft tissue as well
• more detail in oral pathology