Intraoral radiographic sensors with cables having increased user comfort and methods of using the same

A radiological image sensor, comprising:

• an imaging chip held within a housing, said imaging chip having electronics that create a dead space;
• and
• a cable attached to the housing at a cable button connector;
• wherein the sensor has a generally rectangular shape with a short mesial side toward which the cable exits the cable button connector and a short distal side opposite which the cable exits the cable button connector;
• and
• wherein a majority of the dead space is created in the distal side of the sensor.

A radiological image sensor, comprising:

• an imaging chip held within a housing;
• a cable attached to the housing at a cable button connector;
• and
• a dead space in which a radiographic image is not obtained;
• wherein the sensor has a generally rectangular shape with a short mesial side toward which the cable exits the cable button connector and a short distal side opposite which the cable exits the cable button connector;
• and
• wherein a majority of the dead space is created in the distal side of the sensor.

A radiological image sensor, comprising:

• an imaging chip held within a housing;
• a cable attached to the housing at a cable button connector;
• and
• a dead space in which a radiographic image is not obtained;
• wherein the sensor has a generally rectangular shape with a short mesial side toward which the cable exits the cable button connector and a short distal side opposite which the cable exits the cable button connector;
• and
• wherein the sensor has a mesial side dead space of approximately 2 mm or less.

A method for capturing a premolar bitewing or posterior periapical view radiograph through use of an intraoral radiological imaging sensor having an imaging chip held within a housing, comprising the steps of:

• locating the intraoral radiological imaging sensor such that its mesial end is placed as far forward in the patient's mouth as possible to capture the distal aspect of the canine teeth and the mesial aspect of the premolar teeth in a bitewing or periapical view radiograph;
• and
• obtaining the radiograph;
• wherein there is approximately 2 mm or less of dead space in which a radiographic image is not obtained at the mesial end of the intraoral radiological imaging sensor.