The X-ray mandible is performed to assess presence and/or position of unerupted teeth, detection of fractures of the mandible, evaluation of lesions or conditions affecting the jaws including cysts, tumours, giant cell lesions, and other bone lesions, as an alternative when intraoral views are unobtainable because of severe gagging or if the patient is unable to open the mouth or is unconscious, as specific views of the salivary glands or temporomandibular joints.