1. Why radiology is the backbone of the OSCE
Radiology questions are among the most common in ADEX OSCE forms. Examiners use radiographs to test your:
- Ability to detect pathology early
- Understanding of disease patterns
- Clinical judgment for treatment decisions
The good news: radiology is highly pattern-based. Once you know the patterns, your score improves quickly.
2. A simple viewing routine for every radiograph
Instead of staring at the whole image and hoping you notice everything, use a fixed, repeatable order:
- Crowns – restorations, caries, fractures.
- Roots – length, shape, endodontic fillings.
- Apex – radiolucencies, widened PDL.
- Bone – trabecular pattern, lamina dura.
- Crest – horizontal/vertical bone loss.
- Surroundings – sinuses, canal, soft tissues.
One-line rule
Scan the whole image, then zoom into details. Do not answer before you have checked apex and bone levels.
3. Caries patterns that appear in ADEX
Most caries questions test whether you can identify:
- Proximal caries – triangular radiolucency with apex toward the DEJ.
- Occlusal caries – under the enamel surface, often not visible until it reaches dentin.
- Root caries – saucer-shaped radiolucency on the root surface, usually with recession.
Many options try to confuse activity with mere staining. Look for radiolucency extending into dentin, not just surface change.
4. Periapical pathology and endodontic questions
Typical OSCE tasks: identify periapical radiolucency, failed endodontic treatment, or missed canals.
- Periapical radiolucency at the apex with loss of lamina dura → possible periapical periodontitis.
- Large, poorly condensed root filling short or beyond apex → likely failure risk.
- Sudden canal disappearance or different root outline → possible missed canal.
High-yield periapical clues
• Symmetry with neighbouring teeth
• Presence/absence of lamina dura
• Size and shape of radiolucency at apex
5. Periodontal bone patterns
Periodontal questions usually test whether you can classify bone loss and relate it to diagnosis.
- Horizontal loss – bone parallel to CEJ line.
- Vertical loss – angular defects, often localised.
- Furcation involvement – radiolucency in furcation area.
Combine radiographic findings with clinical attachment history in the case description to choose the correct diagnosis.
6. Anatomical landmarks & normal findings
Not all radiolucencies are pathology. Some questions test whether you can recognise normal anatomy:
- Incisive foramen, mental foramen
- Maxillary sinus outline
- Mylohyoid ridge, external oblique ridge
- Nasal fossa, median palatal suture
The safest approach: ask yourself, “Does this follow expected anatomical location and shape?”
7. Technical errors – image quality questions
Some OSCE questions ask what went wrong in the radiograph:
- Foreshortening – too steep vertical angle.
- Elongation – too shallow vertical angle.
- Overlapping contacts – incorrect horizontal angulation.
- Cone cut – beam not centred on receptor.
The answer often asks you to choose the positioning correction that would fix the image.
8. How radiology links to other OSCE sections
Radiographs rarely stand alone. They usually feed into questions about:
- Treatment planning (restore, monitor, refer?)
- Endodontic decisions
- Periodontal therapy and prognosis
- Screening for pathology before extractions
For the best results, practise combined cases that force you to go from radiographic observation → diagnosis → planned action.
9. How to train radiology for ADEX efficiently
Instead of passively scrolling through images, aim for active, structured training:
- Do short sessions with 5–10 radiographs each time.
- For each image, say out loud: “crowns, roots, apex, crest, bone, surroundings”.
- Commit common patterns to memory (classic caries and periapical appearances).
- Mix normal anatomy images with clear pathology to build contrast recognition.
10. How DentAIstudy supports ADEX Radiology OSCE prep
DentAIstudy can transform radiology topics into compact, practical study material:
- Flashcards for key radiographic patterns and differential diagnoses.
- OSCE-style question sets for radiology decision-making (what is the best next step?).
- Short notes summarising bone loss patterns, caries staging, and endodontic signs.
- Custom checklists you can review before each practice session or mock exam.
References
- Dental radiology textbooks and licensure exam interpretation guides.
- ADEX OSCE candidate information and sample case descriptions.
- Standard radiographic anatomy and pathology atlases used in clinical training.