National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) Dental Hygienist Practice Test

What type of x-ray is defined as extraoral, taken outside the mouth to evaluate a joint?

1. Intraoral

2. Extraoral

3. Interoral

4. Periapical

The correct answer is: Extraoral

The correct answer is extraoral. This type of X-ray refers to imaging that is taken outside of the mouth, making it useful for evaluating structures such as the jaw joints (temporomandibular joints), as well as for diagnosing issues related to bone structures and overall facial skeletal anatomy. For instance, panoramic radiographs are a common form of extraoral imaging, providing a broad view of the entire dental arch and surrounding structures. In contrast, intraoral X-rays are taken inside the mouth and primarily focus on capturing details of individual teeth or segments of the dental arch. Interoral is not a standard term used in dental radiography, and periapical images, while a type of intraoral X-ray, specifically aim at capturing the apex of the tooth roots and the surrounding bone, typically not providing information about the joint area like an extraoral X-ray would.