Which type of label should be affixed to extraoral radiographs to indicate side and patient information?

• A. Radiopaque label
• B. Radiolucent label
• C. Transparent sticker
• D. Magnetic sticker

Answer: (A)

Labeling extraoral radiographs relies on markers that will clearly appear on the image itself. A radiopaque label is used because it contains dense material that strongly attenuates X-rays, so the mark shows up as a bright, easily readable area on the radiograph. This makes the patient information and the side designation reliably visible across different viewing conditions, scans, and archival processes, and it won’t fade or be lost during processing. It’s also best placed away from the anatomy of interest to avoid obscuring structures. Other types would not provide the same reliability: a radiolucent or transparent sticker might be hard to see or read on the image, and a magnetic sticker isn’t a standard, dependable method for ensuring legibility and compatibility with radiographic practice.