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Object Localization
The following slides describe
Object Localization, including the
Right Angle Technique and the
Tube Shift Technique.

Object Localization
A periapical film will identify the location of an object
vertically and in a horizontal (mesiodistal) direction.
However, we cannot tell where the object is located
buccolingually, since the periapical film is twodimensional. Therefore we need another method for
locating objects in a buccolingual direction. The two
primary methods of determining the buccolingual
location of objects are:
Right-Angle Technique (Occlusal projection)
Primarily identifies buccolingual location, but may
also confirm mesiodistal location seen on periapical
Tube-shift Technique (SLOB rule, Clarks rule)
Utilizes two films with different horizontal or vertical
angulations

Right Angle Technique

Once you have identified an object on the periapical
film, you can take an occlusal film with the beam at a
right angle (perpendicular) to the direction of the beam
for the periapical. The beam may also be perpendicular
to the film, especially in the mandible. The occlusal film
below shows that the impacted canine is lingually
positioned.

Right Angle (Occlusal) technique

Tube-Shift Localization (Clark)

SLOB Rule
Same Lingual Opposite Buccal
The SLOB rule is used to identify the buccal or
lingual location of objects (impacted teeth, root
canals, etc.) in relation to a reference object
(usually a tooth). If the image of an object moves
mesially when the tubehead is moved mesially
(same direction), the object is located on the
lingual. If the image of the object moves distally
when the tubehead moves mesially (opposite
direction), the object is located on the buccal.

For the SLOB rule to work, there must be a

change in the horizontal or vertical
angulation of the x-ray beam as the tubehead
is moved. This change in angulation will alter
the relationship between the object of
interest and the reference object, allowing
you to determine the buccal or lingual
location.

The closer the object to be localized is to the

reference object, the less the amount of
movement of the image of the object in
relation to the reference object.

In the diagram at right, the

tubehead is moved, but there is no
change in direction of the x-ray
beam, which results in no change
in location of the object of interest
in relation to reference object (see
below). Moving the tubehead
without changing the beam
direction would often result in a
cone cut , depending on how far
the tubehead is moved (see below
right).

When using the SLOB rule, the direction of the beam

must be opposite to the way the tubehead is moved.
Horizontal Tube Shift: When the tubehead is moved
mesially, the beam must be directed more distally (from
the mesial). If the tubehead is moved distally, the
direction of the beam must be more towards the mesial
(from the distal).
Vertical Tube Shift: The SLOB rule also works for
movement of the tubehead in a vertical direction.
Downward movement of the tubehead requires that the
beam be directed upward and when the tubehead is
moved upward, the beam must be directed downward.

Moving the tubehead mesially or distally and changing the

direction of the x-ray beam (as described in the previous slide) will
result in the movement of the object of interest on the film in
relation to the reference object. In the diagram below, the tubehead
is moved distally with the x-ray beam directed more mesially (from
the distal). The object of interest, located lingual to the first molar,
moves distally, in the same direction as the tubehead movement.
(Objects closer to the film move less distance than objects farther
from the film; in the example shown below, both the tooth and
object move forward on the film, but the lingual object , being
closer to the film, moves less and appears to move distally in
relation to the tooth).

Horizontal movement of the tubehead and x-ray beam

incisors
canine
premolar
molar
In moving from the incisor film to the canine film, the
canine film to the premolar film and the premolar film to the
molar film, the tubehead moves distally and the beam is
directed more mesially. There is not much change in
angulation from the premolar to the molar film; the normal
situation would be that the beam is directed slightly more
from the distal (or to the mesial) as the tubehead is moved
distally for the molar projection.

mesial

Horizontal movement
In the diagram at left, the
buccal (yellow) and lingual
(red) objects of interest are
superimposed on each other
because the beam is directed
perpendicular to both of them
and they are in the same
relative position mesiodistally
and vertically. Both images are
located above the second
molar.

distal

distal

mesial

Horizontal movement

mesial

In the diagram at left, the

tubehead is moved distally
and the beam is directed
mesially. On the radiograph,
the buccal object of interest
(yellow) moves mesially
(opposite to tubehead
movement) in relation to the
second molar and the lingual
object of interest (red) moves
distally (same direction as
tubehead) in relation to the
second molar.

distal

distal

mesial

mesial

Horizontal movement
In the diagram at right, the
tubehead is moved mesially
and the beam is directed
distally. On the radiograph, the
buccal object of interest
(yellow) moves distally
(opposite to tubehead
movement) in relation to the
second molar and the lingual
object of interest (red) moves
mesially (same direction as
tubehead) in relation to the
second molar.

distal

distal

mesial

Vertical movement of the tubehead and x-ray beam

Maxillary PA

BW
Mandibular PA
In moving from the maxillary periapical to the bitewing
and from the bitewing to the mandibular periapical, the
tubehead moves down and the beam is redirected
upward (opposite direction; decreased vertical
angulation).

Vertical movement
In the diagram at left, the
buccal (yellow) and lingual
(red) objects of interest are
superimposed on each other
because the beam is directed
perpendicular to both of them
and they are in the same
relative position mesiodistally
and vertically. Both images are
superimposed over the
mandibular second premolar.

Vertical movement
In the diagram at left, the
tubehead is moved upward
and the beam is directed
downward. On the radiograph,
the buccal object of interest
(yellow) moves down
(opposite to tubehead
movement) in relation to the
second premolar and the
lingual object of interest (red)
moves up (same direction as
tubehead) in relation to the
second premolar.

Vertical movement
In the diagram at left, the
tubehead is moved downward
and the beam is directed
upward. On the radiograph,
the buccal object of interest
(yellow) moves up (opposite
to tubehead movement) in
relation to the second
premolar and the lingual
object of interest (red) moves
down (same direction as
tubehead) in relation to the
second premolar.

Usually when using the tube-shift method of

localization, two films are taken of the same area
using different beam angulations. However, this
localization technique will also work when
comparing films taken as part of a complete series
of radiographs. The only difficulty is determining
which way the beam was directed when
comparing the molar and premolar films. Usually
this can be done by comparing the relative
positions of anatomical structures (e.g., zygomatic
process in maxilla or mental foramen in mandible)
or the angulation of the roots of the teeth.
(See following two slides).

premolar

molar

For the films above, we know that the tubehead was moved
distally from the premolar to the molar film. The zygomatic
process (red arrows) is located at the distal aspect of the
2nd molar on the premolar film and it is located over the
distal aspect of the 1st molar on the molar film. This
indicates that it moved mesially as the tubehead moved
distally. We know that the zygomatic process is buccal to
the teeth and, using the SLOB rule, it follows that the x-ray
beam was directed more mesially on the molar film (Buccal
object moved opposite to tubehead movement).

premolar

molar

Another way of determining the change in the direction of

the beam is to look at the angulation of the teeth. In the
premolar film, the roots of the teeth are angled distally,
indicating that the beam was directed distally (from the
mesial). In the molar film, the roots are more upright or
angled slightly mesially, indicating the beam was directed
more mesially (from the distal). Therefore, the tubehead
shifted distally and the beam was angled in the opposite
direction, allowing the use of the SLOB rule (These films
were taken from Slide 3 in the review films to follow).

Richards Method of Object Localization

This method of determining the buccolingual
location of objects was first suggested by
Richards. It utilizes similar ideas to Clarks
method, but it emphasizes beam direction instead
of tubehead movement. If the beam is directed
distally, buccal objects will move distally in
relation to the reference object; lingual objects
move mesially, or opposite to beam direction.
Although this method certainly works, I feel it is
easier to use tubehead movement (SLOB) for
object localization.

On the following six pre-test slides, identify the

buccal or lingual location of the selected objects.
Each slide will be followed with a slide indicating
the correct response and a brief explanation.

canine film

incisor film

The
Is the
restoration
composite
isrestoration
located on on
thetooth
buccal.
# 8The
(arrows)
tubehead
moves
locatedmesially
on the buccal
from the
or canine
lingual?film to the incisor film
(x-ray beam projected more distally) and the composite
moves distally, which is the opposite direction.

2
premolar film

canine film

The
arrow
in the canine
film iscanal.
pointing
the guttamoves
The
arrow
identifies
the lingual
Thetotubehead
percha from
in which
canal of the
first premolar?
mesially
the premolar
filmmaxillary
to the canine
film (beam
directed more distally) and the gutta percha indicated by
the arrow also moves mesially. (See following slide).

lingual
buccal

PID

D
PI

When the tubehead is moved mesially, with the beam

directed distally, the two canals, which are initially
superimposed (premolar periapical above) will separate. The
lingual canal (red arrow) will follow the tubehead movement
and the buccal canal (blue arrow) will move in the opposite
direction, as seen on the canine film.

This
is
the
canal.
The
tubehead
goes
The
red
arrow
is
pointing
the
gutta
percha
in
The
arrow
points
ato
threaded
post.
In the
Thepink
post
isbuccal
located
in to
the
lingual
canal.
As
distally
from
the
canine
film
to
the
premolar
film
which
canal
of
this
maxillary
left
first
premolar?
which
canal
of
this
maxillary
left
second
premolar
tubehead
moves
distally
from
the
canine
film
to
and
the
gutta
percha
mesially
to distally
be
is
the
post
located?
the
premolar
film, themoves
post also
moves
positioned
over
thethat
lingual
which
has the
to cover the
canal
hascanal
all gutta
percha.
threaded post.

premolar film

premolar bitewing

molar film

TheIs
tubehead
movessecond
distally from
the maxillary
the premolar
premolar film
to the molar film.
(arrows)
Thedisplaced
second premolar
also moves
to the buccal
distally,
overlapping
or the
lingual? the first molar
more in the molar film. In moving
from the premolar periapical to the
bitewing, the tubehead moves
down and the premolar also moves
down. The displacement is to the
lingual.

incisor film

canine film

The
Is
the
lateral
displaced
incisor
incisor
is displaced
(arrows)tolocated
the lingual.
on the
The
buccal
or the lingual?
tubehead
moves distally from the incisor film to the
canine film. The lateral incisor also moves distally,
covering half the canine on the canine film.

canine film

premolar film

Lingual. The tubehead moves mesially from the premolar

film to the canine film. The object also moves mesially,
starting
out distal object
to the first
molarby
onthe
thearrows
premolar
film and
Is the radiopaque
identified
located
ending
up mesial
to the
first molar on the canine film. This
on the buccal
or the
lingual?
object represents the tip of the palatal root of the second
molar and is located distal to the first molar and in a lingual
relationship (See following slide).

i n e fi
n
a
c
t fo r
n
e
m
lace
p
D
I
P

lm

PID plac
ement fo
r
premola
r film

root tip
film placement for premolar film

film placement for canine film

For slides 7 through 15, identify

the buccal or lingual location of
the structures indicated. Enter
answers on the answer sheet
provided.

premolar film

incisor film

The maxillary right lateral incisor is tilted out of position.

In which direction (buccal or lingual) is it tipped?

incisor film

canine film

The maxillary left canine is impacted. Is it located more to

the buccal or the lingual?

premolar periapical film

premolar bitewing film

The amalgam restoration

indicated by the arrow is
located on the buccal or
the lingual?

premolar bitewing film

10

premolar periapical film

The mandibular second

premolar is tilted out of
position. In which
direction (buccal or
lingual) is it tipped?

molar bitewing film

11

molar periapical film

The arrow points to a

retention pin. Is the
pin located in the
buccal or lingual
portion of the tooth?

12
premolar film

molar film

Does the arrow point to the mesiobuccal or mesiolingual

canal?

molar bitewing film

molar periapical film

13

The amalgam particle

indicated by the arrows
is located bucally or
lingually?

Is the restoration
indicated by the red
arrows located on the
buccal or lingual of the
first premolar?

14

premolar bitewing film

canine periapical film

premolar periapical film

15

premolar film
incisor film

canine film

The gutta percha root canal filling identified by the red

arrows is located in which canal?