Step One. Identify the correct teeth.
The first image taken is of the maxillary canine and incisor teeth. Highlighted on the dental chart and outlined in the picture below.
Step Two. Placing the sensor.
Make a cradle to hold the sensor by placing a swab directly onto the lower canine teeth.
Hold the sensor with the forefinger and thumb and imagine the line between them extends along the sensor. This will help you position it correctly.
Place the sensor in the mouth with the center line in line with the patient mid-line this will be directly opposite the diestema between 101 and 201.
Step Three. Position the tube head opposite the sensor so that the beam covers the sensor.
Place the cone opposite the sensor. Line up the center of the cone with the center to the top edge of the sensor. This will ensure that the beam completely covers the sensor.
Step Four. Roll the tube head to the correct angle.
As the beam is already aligned with the sensor. Calculate the correct angle using the bisecting angle technique and roll the tube head up to the right position.
Visualise a line that moves along the sensor from the outside of the mouth inwards. This is the long side of the sensor. Marked in yellow.
Next visualise a line through the center of the teeth from cusp of the crown to apex of the root.
Marked in pink.
Bisect (half) the angle between the yellow sensor line and the pink tooth line. Marked in white.
The correct angle is then calculated as perpendicular (90 degrees to) the white line that bisects (half’s) the angle of the sensor line (yellow) and the tooth line (pink). Marked in green.
The tube head can be rolled up from its position covering the sensor from step three to the correct angle marked with the solid green line.
Tube head rolled up to the correct angle.
Step Five. Tube head orientation to patient mid-line.
The standard relationship between the tube head and the mid-line is 45 degrees rostral.
Step Six. Radiation factors
The standard factors with a digital sensor are as follows:
| Patient Size | Location | KV | MAS |
| Feline | Mandibular Incisors and Canine | 60 | 0.125 |
