Abstract
Radiographs, due to their ability to pass through materials differentially, are used in dental practice to obtain information that is not available by other means. Recognition of the presence of a variation from normal is the first step to accurate interpretation of abnormalities. This article presents an outline of a method for examining radiographs in order to recognize that an abnormality is present, and to learn from the visual information some of the characteristics of the abnormality. A number of clinical examples are used to illustrate the conclusions that we can draw from the radiographic changes.