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X-Ray Sensor Placement Techniques   

To get the best imaging results using your XDR Sensor, we reccomend employing the following sesnor positioning techniques. 

  • Always be aware of the side of the connected sensor cable you are standing on before you place the sensor in the patient’s mouth.  This is to avoid having to step over the sensor cable after placement in the patient’s mouth.    
  • Position the patient upright in the chair, verify the occlusal plane of the patient is parallel to the floor. To facilitate the positioning of the X-ray cone, elevate the dental chair for mandibular view and lower the dental chair for maxillary view.    
  • Prepare a few cottons rolls and gauze pads as part of your exam armamentarium. Use these items to protect sensitive areas, such as tori. Cotton rolls can help stabilize the sensor holder when placed on the incisal or occlusal surface of the sensor holder bite block.   
  • Use the overhead light and examine the patient’s mouth before placing the sensor. Look for anything that may modify the standard sensor placement geometry (missing teeth, tori, large tongue, shallow palate).  Patient discomfort is usually caused by the pressure of the sensor impinging on the soft tissue of the oral cavity, not the size of the sensor.    
  • Prepare the sensor with the barrier cover and sensor positioner holder before starting the exam. Always follow the CDC Universal Precaution Rules, and the CDC’s recommendations on infection control and barrier use regarding semi-critical devices that cannot be reprocessed by heat sterilization or high-level disinfection.     
  • Adjust the exposure time on your X-ray machine according to the anatomic area of interest before placing the sensor in the patient’s mouth. Please see the section in this manual regarding exposure recommendations for more information.    
  • When inserting the sensor into the oral cavity, advise the patient to relax and breathe through their mouth or nose. Insert the distal or apical end of the sensor and then gently rotate the sensor into the final position. Position the sensor away from the lingual side of the teeth, especially the mandibular arch to avoid impinging on the sensitive attached gingiva.  
  • Always position the sensor at the patient’s mid-line to utilize the maximum height in the maxillary palate and displace the tongue with the sensor to allow the apical edge of the sensor to depress the floor of the mouth.    
  • Move the sensor cord to avoid the patient biting on the cord. Demonstrate to the patient how to move their lower jaw into a crossbite towards the X-ray cone when closing onto the bite block. This will create more room to accommodate the sensor and will increase patient comfort.     
  • Never ask the patient to “bite down.” Instead, say “slowly close down.” This will minimize patients biting on the sensor cable or plate.  
  • When the patient’s teeth are closed down on the sensor holder, check that the patient is not directly biting on the cable.   
  • “Be the Beam” Before positioning your X-ray cone, visualize where the X-ray beam will illuminate the patient’s anatomy. If you cannot see the teeth of interest through the aiming ring of the sensor holder, nor see said teeth in front of the white surface of the sensor, you will probably not capture the image as intended.    
  • Position the X-ray cone at about 25-30 degrees relative to the occlusal plane for maxillary molars, 15 degrees for maxillary pre-molars, and about 10 degrees for maxillary anterior PAs. Position the cone at 0 degrees for mandibular X-Rays. Remember you want to get the apicies for all periapicals.   
  • Finally, activate the X-ray Machine and expose the sensor, making sure to depress the unit’s button for the entire duration of the exposure.