BITE-WING (INTERPROXIMAL) EXPOSURE TECHNIQUES

GENERAL

Bite-wing film has many uses. The main use is to detect decay between teeth (including depth of caries) by obtaining an image of the crowns of the teeth without the distortion that often occurs in a periapical examination. This is made possible by using a low vertical angle of projection with the film packet held in a nearly vertical position. No attempt is made to include the apices of the teeth. Bite-wing film is also used to detect calculus and to examine the alveolar crest, margins of restorations, and the pulp chamber. Both the maxillary and mandibular teeth of an area are shown on one film.