Are occlusal X-rays still used in X-ray diagnostics? - review.

Occlusal X-rays, as intraoral radiographs, have been used in radiological diagnostics in dentistry for ages. Occlusal X-rays cover a larger imaging field and have a complementary function to other intraoral two-dimensional radiographs. Since the introduction of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), the use of such X-rays has decreased significantly. Nevertheless, due to patients' low exposure to ionizing radiation, occlusal X-rays provide an alternative to three-dimensional techniques (CBCT). This paper presents state-of-the-art occlusal techniques and discusses their contemporary applications which are currently not limited to dental X-ray diagnostics.