Glossary

There are two main types of dental X-rays. The first is intraoral (meaning the X-ray film is inside the mouth) such as a periapical radiograph. The second is extraoral (meaning the X-ray film is outside the mouth) such as a panoramic radiograph, or CBCT. An X-ray for dental purposes can assist the dentist in finding any tooth surfaces that have decay or damage issues which a visual examination alone might not reveal. A dental X-ray procedure generally only lasts a few minutes and can be taken from a variety of angles to show multiple views of the problem area. To ensure dental X-ray safety, the patient may wear an apron over their neck and chest to prevent x-ray exposure to other areas of the body. Dental X-rays are often a part of routine check-up and most dental insurance plans will cover at least part of the dental X-ray cost.

A xenograft is a type of bone or skin graft that is taken from a donor of another species. In comparison, an allograft is a type of bone or skin graft that is taken from a donor of the same species. An autologous bone graft (sometimes called an autograft) is a type of graft taken from the patient themselves, and an alloplastic graft is a manufactured or synthetic bone graft made from hydroxyapatite, a natural mineral and the main component of bone. In the dental field, xenografts are usually porcine or bovine, meaning they come from pigs or cows. The grafts are cleaned, sterilized, and prepared for implantation into the human body. The most common grafts to be used in the dental industry are bone grafts. If a patient has bone loss due to disease, trauma, or missing teeth, a bone graft may be necessary before placing a dental implant.