A member asked:

Will an ex ray of my jaw be strong enough to see fluid in the joint ?

11 doctors weighed in across 4 answers
Dr. Paul Grin answered

Specializes in Pain Management

No: In order to see fluid, disc or soft tissue MRI is the right imaging test. The x-ray or cone beam ct is for hard tissue (bone).

Answered 3/26/2015

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Dr. Mark Iacobelli answered

Specializes in Dentistry

Not related: Xrays are meant to show hard structures like bones and teeth. Fluid in a joint can be better detected by an mri. A practitioner can deduce that the joint may have fluid in it if the bones are not where they are supposed to be, but the fluid cannot be seem unless it is 'dyed' with a radio-opaque marker.

Answered 3/26/2015

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Dr. Louis Gallia answered

Specializes in Surgery - Oral & Maxillofacial

MRI: An MRI will show fluid. Not regular xray.

Answered 10/8/2017

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Doesn't show: X-rays do not show fluid, only changes in space between hard (bone) structures. There's lots of information that can be gleaned from an x-ray, and there are many different types of x-rays of the jaw joints. Ask your treating Dentist to discuss with you what he/she is seeing on the film.

Answered 7/14/2015

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