In a periapical radiograph, if the image of the tooth is long and well-defined but the apices are missing, what technique was likely used?

The scenario describes a periapical radiograph where the image of the tooth appears elongated and well-defined while the apices are missing. This distortion commonly results from the bisecting technique, which involves aligning the film or sensor perpendicular to a line that bisects the angle formed between the long axis of the tooth and the film. As a result, the image may be subject to elongation, particularly if the angle is not optimally positioned.

In the bisecting technique, if the alignment is miscalculated, it can lead to an image where the tooth appears longer and the roots or apices are not fully captured within the field of view. The bisecting technique can sometimes miss the apices because it does not allow for the same level of positioning accuracy as other techniques, like the paralleling technique, which uses a sensor positioned parallel to the tooth and ensures that the entire tooth, including its apices, is depicted clearly.

The paralleling technique, by contrast, typically results in images that are less distorted and more accurate representations of the tooth, including the apices. The occlusal technique primarily captures larger areas of the dental arch and would not typically result in an elongated tooth image as described. The segmental technique may also