A type of dental X-ray film that is held in place by a small wing or tab that the patient bites down on to capture images of the upper and lower teeth together.
Compound of 'bite' (Old English 'bitan') and 'wing' (Old English 'winge'), referring to the wing-shaped device the patient bites. The term emerged in dental radiography in the early 20th century.
Dentists use bitewings to detect cavities between teeth where they're hardest to see, and the 'wing' design is actually brilliant—it positions the film at exactly the right angle every time, making it reproducible and reliable.
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