What are intraoral (IO) projections?

• A. Panoramic and lateral jaw views
• B. Tomographic and SLOB analyses
• C. Periapical, bitewing, occlusal
• D. Cephalometric and lateral skull

Answer: (C)

Intraoral projections are radiographs taken with the film or sensor placed inside the mouth, giving high-detail images of individual teeth and their supporting structures. The main types are periapical, bitewing, and occlusal views. Periapical images show the entire tooth from crown to root tip and surrounding bone, useful for assessing root health and surrounding tissues. Bitewing images capture the crowns and interproximal surfaces of adjacent teeth, helping detect interproximal caries and monitor bone levels. Occlusal views provide a broader view of a jaw’s occlusal surfaces, useful for assessing tooth eruption, impactions, or pathology within the arch. This set contrasts with extraoral radiographs like panoramic or lateral skull views, which image from outside the mouth, and with techniques like tomographic imaging or SLOB analyses used for localization.