--- title: X-Ray Sensor Placement Techniques    description: How do I position the sensor in the patients mouth? How do I imporve sensor positioning techniques? --- Get in touch: [844-937-7000](tel:844-937-7000) [![XDR Radiology](https://xdrradiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/logo_xdr.svg)](https://xdrradiology.com) - Products - [Intraoral Sensor](https://xdrradiology.com/products/sensor/) - [Imaging Software](https://xdrradiology.com/products/software/) - [Image Conversion](https://xdrradiology.com/products/conversion/) - Solutions - [Dental Groups](https://xdrradiology.com/solutions/dso/) - [Private Practices](https://xdrradiology.com/solutions/practices/) - [Federal Programs](https://xdrradiology.com/solutions/federal/) - [Institutions](https://xdrradiology.com/solutions/institutions/) - [Partners](https://xdrradiology.com/partners/) - [Customers](https://xdrradiology.com/customers/) - [Club](https://xdrradiology.com/club/) - [Shop](https://xdrradiology.com/shop/) - Support - [Knowledge Base](https://kb.xdrradiology.com/?hsLang=en-us) - [Technical Support](https://xdrradiology.com/support/) - [Download Center](https://xdrradiology.com/download/) [Talk to Sales](https://xdrradiology.com/contact) [Skip to content](https://kb.xdrradiology.com/x-ray-sensor-placement-technique#main-content) English - United States Show submenu for translations ![](https://kb.xdrradiology.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Frame%209.png?width=865&height=138&name=Frame%209.png) - Home - Products - Pricing - Blog - Company Open main navigation Close main navigation - Home - Products - Pricing - Blog - Company - English - United States Show submenu for translations - [Contact us](https://xdrradiology.com/support/) [Contact us](https://xdrradiology.com/support/) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [XDR Radiology](https://kb.xdrradiology.com/?hsLang=en-us) 2. [General](https://kb.xdrradiology.com/general?hsLang=en-us) September 21, 2026 # X-Ray Sensor Placement Techniques    ## To get the best diagnostic images from your XDR Sensor, we recommend following these sensor positioning techniques. - Always be aware of where you are standing relative to the PC connected sensor cable you are standing on before you place the sensor in the patient’s mouth.  Avoid having stepping over the sensor cable after sensor placement in the patient’s mouth.    - Position the patient upright in the chair, verify the patient’s occlusal plane is parallel to the floor. To facilitate the positioning of the X-ray cone and proper angulation, elevate the dental chair for mandibular views and lower the dental chair for maxillary views.    - Prepare a few cottons rolls and gauze pads as part of your exam armamentarium. Use these items to protect sensitive areas, such as exostosis or tori. Cotton rolls can help stabilize the sensor holder when placed on the incisal or occlusal surface of the sensor holder bite block or when there are multiple missing teeth.   - 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 -, especially upon the lingual of the mandible. - Prepare the sensor with the barrier cover and sensor positioner holder before starting the exam. Always follow the CDC Universal Precautions, and the CDC’s recommendations on infection control and barrier use regarding semi-critical devices that cannot be heat sterilized or high-level disinfection.     - Adjust the exposure time on your X-ray machine according to the specific anatomic area of interest, select the appropriate patient age, size, and sex, 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 at the patient’s midline, and then gently rotate the sensor into its final position in either arch. Position the sensor at the midline, keep away from the lingual surface of the teeth, especially avoid impinging on the sensitive attached gingiva on the lingual aspect of the mandible.  - Always position the sensor at the patient’s mid-line to utilize the maximum height of the maxillary palate for maxillary views, and displace the tongue with the sensor toward the midline to allow the apical edge of the sensor to access the flexible floor of the mouth on mandibular views.    - Adjust the sensor cord to avoid the patient biting on the cord during closure. Ask the patient to move their mandible into crossbite towards the X-ray cone when closing onto the bite block. This will allow the flexible floor of the mouth to accommodate the sensor and will increase patient comfort and compliance.     - Never ask the patient to “bite down.” Instead, say “slowly close down.” This will minimize patients biting on the sensor or cable causing damage. - When the patient’s teeth are closed down on the sensor holder, check that the patient is not directly biting on the cable; the bite block should disclude the anterior teeth to allow the cable to exit the patient’s mouth.   - Visualize the path of the X-ray beam and the area of interest in the the patient’s anatomy. Verify the teeth of interest are visible through the aiming ring of the sensor holder, and be able to these teeth in front of the sensor’s white active surface to 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 premolars, 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 the periapical views.   - Finally, when all of the above have been satisfied, activate the X-ray Machine’s dead man switch and expose the sensor, making sure to depress the unit’s button for the entire duration of the exposure.    - [Getting started](https://kb.xdrradiology.com/getting-started?hsLang=en-us) - [Troubleshooting](https://kb.xdrradiology.com/troubleshooting?hsLang=en-us) - [FAQs](https://kb.xdrradiology.com/faqs?hsLang=en-us) - [General](https://kb.xdrradiology.com/general?hsLang=en-us) - [Integrations](https://kb.xdrradiology.com/integrations?hsLang=en-us) - [Reports](https://kb.xdrradiology.com/reports?hsLang=en-us) - Home - Products - Pricing - Blog - Company [![](https://kb.xdrradiology.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Frame%209.png?width=865&height=138&name=Frame%209.png)](https://kb.xdrradiology.com/?hsLang=en-us) 11300 W Olympic Blvd Suite 710 Los Angeles, CA 90064 Copyright © 2025, XDR Radiology ![XDR Radiology](https://xdrradiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/xdr-white.png) XDR® offers dentist-driven radiology, imaging, and diagnostic tools that enhance patient care, improve efficiency, and drive practice success by bridging the gap between dentistry and technology. ##### BUSINESS HOURS Mon – Fri 6:30 AM – 5:00 PM PT Sat – Sun Closed [844-937-7000](tel:844-937-7000) ##### NEWSLETTER [SUBSCRIBE](https://xdrradiology.com/newsletter) ##### COMPANY - [About Us](https://xdrradiology.com/about/) - [Leadership Team](https://xdrradiology.com/leadership/) - [Careers](https://xdrradiology.com/careers/) - [Refer a Client](https://xdrradiology.com/refer/) - [Press Releases](https://xdrradiology.com/press/) - [Newsletter](https://xdrradiology.com/newsletter/) ##### SUPPORT - [Ownership Guide](https://xdrradiology.com/own-xdr/) - [Return Policy](https://xdrradiology.com/return-policy/) - [Warranty](https://xdrradiology.com/warranty/) [Terms of Use](https://xdrradiology.com/terms-of-use/) [Privacy Policy](https://xdrradiology.com/privacy-policy/) [Cookie Policy](https://xdrradiology.com/cookie-policy/) [Compliance & Transparency](https://xdrradiology.com/compliance/) [EULA](https://xdrradiology.com/eula/) [Patents](https://xdrradiology.com/patents/) This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the [Google Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms) apply. © Copyright Cyber Medical Imaging, Inc dba XDR Radiology. 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