Why would I need a periapical x-ray?
A periapical x-ray shows the entire tooth, from the exposed crown to the end of the root and the bones that support the tooth. These X-rays are used to identify dental problems below the gum line or in the jaw, such as impacted teeth, abscesses, cysts, tumors, and bone changes linked to some diseases. It displays the areas immediately around the tip of the root. It is therefore most commonly used in endodontic / root canal treatments to help see and identify issues with a particular tooth.
Endodontic/Root Canal Treatments
The objective of this type of view is to capture the the whole tooth including the tip of the root on the film. This is helpful in identifying the cause of pain in a specific tooth, because it allows a dentist to visualise the tooth as well as the surrounding bone in their entirety. This is the most common view taken if you feel you have an abscess. This view is often used to determine the need for root canal therapy as well as to visualise the successful progression of endodontic therapy once it is initiated.
The name periapical is derived from the Greek peri, which means “around,” and apical, which means “tip.”
