Procedures
Bitewing X-rays
Also called bitewings, BWX, BW
Small X-ray images showing the crowns of upper and lower back teeth together, used mainly to find decay between teeth.
Bitewing X-rays are taken while the patient bites down on a small tab, which lets the image capture the upper and lower teeth on one side at once. They are the go-to picture for spotting cavities between teeth and checking bone height. Most offices take them on a set schedule, and many insurance plans only pay for them once in a given period, so check the patient's last bitewing date before taking new ones.
Example at the front desk
The insurance only pays for bitewings once a year, and her last set was ten months ago.