What positioning technique involves placing the film receptor parallel to the long axis of the tooth?

The technique that involves placing the film receptor parallel to the long axis of the tooth is known as the paralleling technique. In this method, the X-ray film or digital sensor is positioned in a way that is parallel to the teeth being radiographed. This alignment minimizes distortion and provides a more accurate representation of the tooth and surrounding structures in the radiographic image.

When the film receptor is parallel to the long axis of the tooth, the resulting radiograph produces an image that is more true to size and shape, improving the diagnostic quality. This technique is particularly beneficial for obtaining periapical images, as it captures the entire tooth, including the root and surrounding bone, providing essential information for treatment planning.

In contrast, the bisecting technique involves positioning the receptor at an angle to the tooth, which requires the operator to create a line that bisects the angle between the film and the tooth. This can lead to image distortion.

Foreshortening occurs when the X-ray beam is directed perpendicular to the receptor instead of the long axis of the tooth, resulting in images that appear compressed and not representative of the actual tooth structure. Overlapping is a form of distortion where adjacent teeth are not clearly differentiated, leading to obscured anatomical details. Thus,