BU Dental Radiology Practice Exam 2026 – Your All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

A good periapical radiograph is meant to evaluate the tooth and its surrounding bone, so the image must include the full length of the tooth root and a small amount of bone beyond the apex. This coverage allows you to examine the lamina dura and the periapical region for signs of pathology, such as periapical radiolucencies, bone loss, or unusual root morphology, and provides a baseline for comparison over time. Imaging only the crown would miss pathology at the root tip and beyond the apex, which is essential for diagnosing endodontic and periapical problems. Soft tissue contours aren’t reliably depicted on dental radiographs, and while the maxillary sinus may appear in some views, that isn’t the primary goal of a periapical exam. Therefore, including the entire root and at least about 2 mm of bone beyond the apex is the standard for a proper periapical radiograph.