Dental x-ray analysis

This post is also available in:

Reading dental x-rays involves identifying anatomical landmarks and evaluating tooth and bone structures for signs of pathology or toxic dental materials. Within Dr. Hulda Clark’s protocol, special attention is given to locating sites of metal, radioactive contamination, and infection.

Basic steps to read a dental x-ray (panoramic or full-mouth series):

1. Understand the view type

• Panoramic x-ray: A broad image showing both upper and lower jaws, sinuses, jaw joints, and tooth roots.
• Bitewing: Focuses on the crowns of upper and lower teeth; useful for spotting decay between teeth.
• Periapical: Shows the entire tooth from crown to root and the surrounding bone.

2. Identify key structures

• Teeth: Appear as bright white due to enamel density.
• Fillings or prosthetics: appear even denser (bright white) and may show irregular shapes.
• Bone: Mid-gray with a fine texture; should show consistent height and density.
• Sinuses and soft tissue: Appear darker due to lower density.

3. Look for abnormalities

• Amalgam fillings: Very bright and irregularly shaped. If suspicious for uranium content, they may coincide with other symptoms (e.g., neurological issues).
• Root canals: Filled canals appear white lines inside the roots. Check for leftover rubber or signs of infection (dark areas at the tip of the roots).
• Abscesses: Appear as dark, round areas near root tips or jawbone, indicating bone loss or infection.
• Bone loss: Look for lowered bone around teeth (horizontal loss) or pockets (vertical defects).
• Mercury tattoos: May appear as small bright fragments in gums or nearby tissues.
• Radiolucencies (dark zones): Suggest infection, cysts, or cavitations.

4. Match tooth numbers
Use a tooth chart (such as the Universal Numbering System or FDI system) to identify each tooth. Numbering helps coordinate x-ray findings with clinical symptoms and Syncrometer tests.

5. Look for patterns

• Clusters of radiopaque (bright) material may indicate old dental work that needs removal.
• Multiple root canal teeth with periapical radiolucencies suggest widespread infection.
• Jawbone irregularities can suggest cavitations or retained dental fragments.

6. Confirm with Syncrometer
In Dr. Clark’s protocol, radiographic findings are always cross-checked against Syncrometer tests for mercury, uranium, polonium, bleach residues, and pathogens such as Strep. pyogenes.

Tip: Bring a printed panoramic x-ray copy for annotation, matching tooth numbers with findings and symptoms.