Lamina dura

• Wall of the tooth socket that surrounds the roots of teeth- dense cortical bone
• appears as a dense, radiopaque line

Periodontal Ligament Space- PDL

• the space between the root and the lamina dura. Contains connective tissue fibers, blood vessels and lymphatics
• appears as a thin, radiolucent line around the tooth.
• In healthy periodontium the space appears as a continous  radiolucent line with uniform thickness.

posterior alveolar crest

• the most coronal part of the alveolar bone, found between the teeth (this also refers to the posterior crests)
• dense cortical bone, that is continous with the lamina dura (this also refers to the posterior crests)
• in health 1.5-2.0 mm below CEJ (also refers to posterior crest)
• flat and smooth compared to anterior crest
• tends to appear less dense than the anterior crest
• radiopaque

anterior alveolar crest

• the most coronal part of the alveolar bone, found between the teeth (this also refers to the posterior crests)
• dense cortical bone, that is continous with the lamina dura (this also refers to the posterior crests)
• in health 1.5-2.0 mm below CEJ (also refers to posterior crest)
• pointed and sharp between the teeth
• appears more dense than posterior crest
• radiopaque

pulp

• relatively radiolucent
• the pulp cavity is generally smaller in children b/c it decreses in size as we age
• pulp cavity has a pulp chamber and pulp canals

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enamel- strongest stucture in the body- radiopaque

dentin- surrounds the pulp cavity, comprises most of tooth structure- less opaque than enamel

dentioenamel junction- junction between detin an d enamel

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arrows are pointing to the radiolucent area, not the radiopaque lines

nasal cavity

• also known as nasal fossa
• pear-shaped compartment of bone superior to the maxilla.
• formed by the palatal process of the maxilla, horizontal portions of the palatine bones, and the ethmoid bone.
• large radiolucent area above maxillary incisors (bilateral)

nasal septum

• vertical radiopaque partition that divides the nasal cavity, formed by the ethmoid and vomer bones.
• may be super imposed above median palatine suture

floor of the nasal cavity

• formed by the palatine process of the maxilla and horizontal portions of the palatine bones
• appears as a dense radiopaque band above the maxillary incisors (bilaterally)

median palatine suture

• immovable joint between two palatine processes of the maxilla which form the hard palate
• thin, radiolucent line between maxillary central incisors
• becomes less noticable with age

superior foramen of the incisive canal (nasal spots)

• two tiny holes located on the floor of the nasal cavity, openings for the canals that join to form the incisive canal and foramen
• 2 small, round radiolucencies located superior to the apices of the maxillary centrals

incisive foramen

• also called the nasopalatine foramen
• hole at the midline of the anterior hard palate, posterior to the central incisors
• nasopaltine nerve exits here
• small round radiolucent area between the roots of the maxillary central incisors

inferior nasal conchae

•  lower portion of the nasal cavity
• diffuse radiopaque mass or projection within the nasal cavity

maxillary sinus

• paired cavities located within the maxilla (bilateral!!) above the premolar and molar teeth. Rarely do they extend anteriorly beyond the canines
• radiolucent area located bilaterally above the apices of the maxillary molars and premolars
• the floor of the sinus (cortical) is a radiopaque line

outline of the nasal cavity

• radiopaque upside down "Y" formed by the intersection of the lateral wall of the nasal fossa and anterior border of the maxillary sinus

lateral fossa (also known as canine fossa)

•  smooth, depressed area of the maxilla located just inferior and medial to the infraorbital foramen between the canine and lateral incisors
• appears as a radiolucent area between the maxillary canine and lateral incisors
• appearance ranges from distinct to absent

septum of the maxillary sinus

• bony walls or partitions that appear to divide the maxillary sinus into compartments 
• appear as radiopaque lines within the maxillary sinus

1. maxillary sinus (not always seen)- bilateral, radiolucent

2. outline of nasal cavity- bilateral, radiopaque

3. lateral fossa (canine fossa)- bilateral radiolucent

1. maxillary sinus- radiolucent

2. septum of the maxillary sinus-radiopaque

3. floor of the maxillary sinus -radiopaque

• all bilateral

1. maxillary sinus- radiolucent

2. zygomatic process- radiopaque

3. maxillary tuberosity- radiopaque

4. hamular process- radiopaque

5. coronoid process- radiopaque

• all bilateral

1. nasal cavities- bilateral, radiolucent

2. floor of the nasal cavites-bilateral, radiopaque

3. nasal septum- radiopaque

4. median palatine suture- radiopaque

5. superior foramen of the incisive canal (nostril spots)-bilateral, radiolucent

6. incisive foramen- radiolucent in varying degrees

7. inferior nasal conchae-bilateral, radiopaque

8. lower border of the nose or lip- radiopaque shadow over cervical area of teeth

1. genio tubercules- radiopaque ring with a radiolucent center

2. mental ridge- radiopaque

3. mental fossa- radiolucent 

1. mental foramen-bilateral, radiolucent

2. mandibular canal- bilateral, radiolucent line

1. ascending ramus- radiopaque

2. mylohyoid ridge- radiopaque

3. internal oblique ridge- radiopaque

4. external oblique ridge- radiopaque

5. mandibular canal- radiolucent band

6. submandibular fossa- radiolucent

• all bilateral

zygomatic process

• process of the maxillae that articulates with the zygomatic bone
• bilateral
• appears as a J or U shape radiopicity superior to the max 1st molar

Maxillary tuberosity

• posterior to the 3d molar where blood vessels and nerves enter to supply the posterior teeth
• bilateral
• appears as a radiopaque bulge distal to the max 3d molars

hamular process

• extends from the medial pterygoid plate of the ethmoid bone
• bilateral
• appears as a radiopaque hook like projection posterior to the maxillary tuberosity
• varies in length, shape and density

coronoid process

• prominence of bone on the anterior ramus of the mandible
• serves as an attachment site for the muscles of mastication
• bilateral
• appears in the maxillary molar view as a triangular radiopicity superimposed over or inferior to the maxillary tuberosity

genio tubercules

• tiny bumps of bone located on the lingual aspect of the mandible
• serve as attachment site for the genioglossus and geniohyoid mucles
• appear as a ring shaped radiopicity below the apices of the mandibular incisors

mental ridge

• a linear prominance of the mandible located on the external surface of the mandible in the mental region
• extends from the premolar region to the midline and slopes upwards
• appears as a thick radiopaque band from the premolars to the incisors 

mental fossa

• a scooped out, depressed area of the bone on the external surface of the mandible, superior to the mental ridge
• appears as a radiolucent area above the mental ridge in the apical area of the mandibular incisors

mental foramen

• opening/hole in the bone located on the external surface of the mandible in the premolar region.
• blood vessels and nerves that supply the lower lip exit through this foramen
• appears as a small, ovoid, radiolucent area in the apical region of the mandibular premolars.
• frequently misdiagnosed as a lesion (periapical cyst, granuloma, or abcess) bc of it's apical location

mandibular canal

• tube like passage way through the bone of the length of the mandible (bilateral)
• extends from the mandibular foramen to the mental foramen and houses the inferior alveolar nerve and vessels
• appears as a radiolucent band outlined by 2 thin radiopaque lines that represent the cortical walls of the canal.
• Appears below or superimposed over the apices of the mandibular molars

mylohyoid ridge

•  a linear prominence of bone, bilateral on the inner surface of the mandible 
• extends from the molar region, downwards and forwards toward the lower border of the mandibular symphysis.
• serves as an attachment site for the mylohyoid muscle
• appears as a dense radiopaque band that extends down and forward from the molar region
• appears most prominent in the molar region
• may be superimposed over roots of the mandibular teeth
• may be continous with the internal oblique ridge

arrows are pointing to the internal oblique ridge

the external oblique ridge is the lesser radiopaque line superior to the internal oblique ridge

• linear prominences of bone located in the internal and external surfaces of the mandible (respectively) that extend downward and forward from the ramus
• appear as radiopaque bands that extend downward and forward from the ramus
• depending on the radiographic technique used, they may appear superimposed on one another. When they appear seperate, the external oblique ridge is superior to the internal oblique ridge. 
• the internal oblique ridge appears more radiopaque than the external ridge (x-ray waves must travel through more tissue to reach the internal ridge)

submandibular fossa

• scooped out, depressed area of the internal surface of the mandible, inferior to the mylohyoid ridge
• fossa for the submandibular salivary gland
• appears as a radiolucent area in the molar region below the mylohyoid ridge

anterior nasal spine

• sharp projection of the maxilla located at the anterior and inferior portion of the nasal cavity
• appears as a V shaped radiopaque area at the intersection of the floor of the nasal cavity and the nasal septum

nutrient canals

• tubelike passage ways through bone that contain nerves and blood vessels and supply the teeth
• interdental canals are most often seen in the anterior mandible, a region that typically has thin bone
• appear as vertical radiolucent lines
• more easily seen in thin bone
• on an edentulous mandible nutrient canals may appear more prominent

alveolar bone

• bone of the maxilla and mandible that supports and encases the roots of the teeth
• dense cortical and cancellous bone
• appears radiopaque with various shades of grey

vocab review- all on one card since hopefully this is just review

lingual foramen

• tiny opening on the internal surface of the mandible located near the midline
• surrounded by genial tubercles- which appears as a radiopaque ring around the forament
• appears as a small, radiolucent dot located inferior to the apices of the mandibular incisors