Which aspect cannot be determined from a radiograph prior to implant placement?

Determining the facio-lingual width of alveolar bone from a radiograph presents inherent limitations. While radiographs provide valuable information regarding the overall bone structure and can reveal certain dimensions, they often do not offer a precise measurement of the facio-lingual width due to factors such as the two-dimensional nature of radiographic images and the potential for distortion.

In contrast, other aspects like bone density can often be inferred through radiographic assessment by evaluating the radiopacity of the bone; the height of the alveolar ridge can typically be measured fairly accurately from the radiographs; and the presence of pathology, which can manifest through various radiographic features such as bone loss or lesions, can also be identified quite effectively. Hence, while radiographs are powerful diagnostic tools, they fall short in precisely determining the facio-lingual width of the alveolar bone prior to implant placement.