Facial Bone X-ray

A facial bone x-ray is a series of x-rays taken of various bones of your face. The face is made up of many small bones therefore multiple images may need to be taken to ensure all structures are seen on the image.

Your doctor may have requested an x-ray of your facial bones for various reasons. Below is a list of the common reasons:

• Identify any problems of the sinuses (sinusitis or abnormal growths),
• Diagnose fractures of the facial bones and nose,
• Examine the bones around the eye (also see orbit x-ray),
• Pre-operative assessment of the sinuses,
• Screen for metal objects around the eyes before magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),
• Identify any causes of pain in the face area.

It is important to inform a member of staff as soon as possible if you are pregnant or suspect you are pregnant BEFORE the test is performed. The examination may not be appropriate or special considerations or precautions might need to be taken.

During the examination you will be either sitting in a chair or lying on the x-ray examination table. You may be repositioned multiple times to allow different views to be taken. It is extremely important to hold your face completely still to obtain clear pictures.

For safety reasons there cannot be anyone in the room during an x-ray and relatives must wait outside. A staff member will be behind the glass window a short distance away watching the patient at all times during the scan should there be any concerns.

A specialised doctor will carefully analyse your images and make a report for your referring doctor. If the referring doctor is in the hospital they will be able to access the results on their computer. If you are an out-patient and require a copy of the images then a disc of images can be made available within 5 working days after the x-ray.