Introduction
Tomography is a radiological technique for obtaining clear X-ray images of internal structures by focusing on a specific plane of the body to produce a cross-sectional image. It allows the examination of structures that are obscured by overlying organs and soft tissues.
The tomogram is obtained by moving the source of X-rays in one direction and the receptor (film or digital sensor) in the opposite direction around the object in the focal plane. This rotation sharpens the object in the rotation centre, as it is always in the same place on the sensor, and blurs/hides the structures that are not in the focal plane as they are projected in different parts of the sensor during the movement.
Objects that are situated before the slice are blurred and smaller, objects behind the slice are blurred and larger.
Image acquisition procedure
1. Select mandibular or maxillar area.
2. Select tooth number (one to eight).
3. Position patient in the unit using the implant chinrest (set for the mandibular or maxillar acquisition) and the median
laser in the column. The median laser indicates the position of the middle transversal slice. The implant chinrest
allows for the rotation of the patient’s head so that the laser coincides with the tooth to be X-rayed.
4. Acquire image.
5. Image display in the imaging software (image with three transversal slices).
