Which statement about caries detection accuracy is true?

• A. Bitewings are better than PANs for detecting small lesions
• B. Panoramic radiographs are always superior
• C. Periapical radiographs detect more caries than bitewings
• D. Radiographs cannot detect caries at all

Answer: (B)

In caries detection with radiographs, image quality and where the lesion sits determine how accurate you can be. Bitewings give a focused view of posterior teeth with high spatial resolution and minimal distortion, so they’re more sensitive to small, early approximal caries. Panoramic radiographs cover more area, but they sacrifice detail: they have lower resolution and more overlap of structures, which makes small lesions easy to miss. That’s why panoramic images are not the best choice when you’re specifically looking for early, small caries between teeth.

So the statement that bitewings are better than panoramic radiographs for detecting small lesions is the best answer. Radiographs can detect caries when lesions are visible, but they are not always superior; the other options oversimplify or state something false, like radiographs being unable to detect caries at all.