Equipment
Bitewing X-Ray
A small intraoral X-ray that captures the crowns of upper and lower back teeth in one image.
Bitewing radiographs are the workhorse of routine dental check-ups. The patient bites down on a small tab so the film or sensor sits parallel to the back teeth, producing an image that shows the crowns of upper and lower premolars and molars together with the bone level between them. This view is uniquely good at revealing interproximal cavities (decay between teeth) before they become visible to the eye, and it lets the dentist track bone loss from periodontal disease over time. Most adults receive bitewings every 12–24 months; high-risk patients may need them annually.