title: Lateral radiographic technique: an alternative approach for anterior teeth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the lateral radiographic technique, its use and indication.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The clinician's difficulty in performing the correct diagnosis for some endodontic situations sometimes leads to a compromised treatment of some teeth. Considering this, an alternative radiographic technique for anterior teeth (lateral radiographic technique - LRT) may be used to help endodontic diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This technique use a periapical radiographic film or sensor that is placed vertically in the anterior portion of maxilla or mandible and with the beam passing perpendicular to the radiographic film its possible to evaluate the possibility of a fenestration on the buccal cortical bone plate; differentiate overextension and overfilling; indentify root fractures; confirm the presence and location of an instrument in the root canal system; and assess the treatment of root perforations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LRT is an easy and cheap technique that can be used to help in anterior teeth diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering that LRT is easy to perform and available at low cost, it could be utilized more by clinicians in the dental office in order to quickly assist in diagnosis. As a complimentary radiographic examination for anterior teeth, it could become a useful supplement to aid the clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Endodontics, UESB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Vieira
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Emmanuel João Nogueira
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Leal Silva
authors.forename: Juliana Melo
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.forename: Caio Cesar Randi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ferraz
mesh_terms: D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003481:Cuspid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008437:Maxilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008439:Maxillary Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000295:instrumentation; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation; D012390:Root Canal Therapy; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014091:Tooth Resorption / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D014962:X-Ray Film
chemical_list: D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials