Contrast Radiography in Dentistry

Contrast radiography is one of the most important adjunct procedures for imaging of the oral and maxillo-facial region. Despite the advent of newer investigation techniques, it remains one of the most useful diagnostic tools. Contrast radiography improves or allows the visualisation of organs surrounded by tissues of the same radiographic opacity, thus providing information about the size, shape and position of these structures and neighbouring areas. It shows the internal structure of an organ, including its mucosal pattern and may also occasionally help in assessing organ function. In the beginning, contrast agents were used mainly with conventional X rays but later they have evolved as an important subset of the newly developed specialized imaging techniques used for specific anatomic or physiologic dysfunction, eg. Sialography, Arthography, Angiography & Nasopharyngography. The adverse effects from the intravascular administration of ICM are generally mild and self-limited; reactions that occur from the extravascular use of ICM are rare, severe or life-threatening reactions can occur very rarely.