What causes missing apices in a radiograph?

Missing apices in a radiograph are primarily caused by inadequate vertical angulation. When the vertical angle of the x-ray beam is not properly adjusted, it can result in parts of the tooth, specifically the apex, being cut off in the final image. This occurs because the beam may not be directed appropriately to capture the entire length of the tooth root, which typically extends into the bone. Therefore, achieving the correct vertical angulation is crucial for producing diagnostic-quality radiographs that encompass all critical anatomical features, including the apices of the teeth.

Insufficient film exposure, incorrect film size, and incorrect filtration can impact the quality of a radiograph in different ways, but they are not specifically related to the issue of missing apices. Insufficient film exposure would generally lead to a faint image rather than loss of specific anatomical details, while incorrect film size could result in a cropped image but wouldn’t specifically cause missing apices unless the film was too small. Incorrect filtration would mainly affect the quality of the x-ray beam but again would not specifically cause apices to go missing in the image. Hence, understanding proper vertical angulation is essential for capturing the entire tooth anatomy, including the apices.