Which type of film is used in orthodontics to show bony and soft tissue areas of the facial profile?

The correct choice for showing bony and soft tissue areas of the facial profile in orthodontics is cephalometric film. This film is specifically designed to provide a lateral view of the head, allowing practitioners to assess the relationships between the teeth, jaw, and various anatomical landmarks. This is crucial in orthodontics for planning treatments and analyzing growth patterns.

Cephalometric radiography helps in diagnosing dental and skeletal relationships, as it can illustrate the profile of the face, including the position of the mandible and maxilla in relation to the cranial base. This type of imaging plays a vital role in developing orthodontic treatment plans that may involve appliances or braces.

Other types of films serve different purposes and would not be suited for this specific need. For instance, periapical films are primarily used for capturing the detailed structure of individual teeth and their surrounding bone but do not provide a comprehensive view of the overall facial profile. Bite-wing films are focused on showing interproximal areas of the teeth for caries detection and are limited in perspective regarding bone and soft tissue relationships. Panoramic films do cover the entire dentition and some surrounding structures but lack the specific alignment and detail necessary to assess the bony and soft tissue components in the precise manner that ce