What is radiolucency vs radiopaque?

Radiolucency and radiopacity are terms used in radiology to describe the level of transparency or opacity of structures in an image produced by a radiographic technique, such as X-rays or CT scans.

Radiolucency refers to structures that appear dark or black in an image due to their ability to allow X-rays or other forms of radiation to pass through them easily. Examples of radiolucent structures include air, soft tissue, and some types of cysts or tumors.

Radiopacity, on the other hand, refers to structures that appear bright or white in an image due to their ability to absorb or block X-rays or other forms of radiation. Examples of radiopaque structures include bones, metal objects, and some types of dental restorative materials.

In dentistry, radiolucency and radiopacity play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of different dental conditions. For example, a radiolucent area in a dental X-ray may indicate a cyst or abscess, while a radiopaque area may indicate a dental filling or a dental implant.