A method for obtaining an intraoral x-ray image for a patient, comprising: determining an initial spatial position and an initial angular orientation of an x-ray source relative to a detector that is disposed within the mouth of the patient; obtaining and storing a first x-ray image from the detector with the x-ray source at the initial spatial position and angular orientation and associating the initial spatial position and angular orientation to the first x-ray image; repeating, one or more times, a sequence of: (i) calculating a next spatial position and a next angular orientation for the x-ray source relative to the detector; (ii) providing information that is indicative of positional adjustment that is between the x-ray source and detector for obtaining a next x-ray image at the next spatial position and the next angular orientation, where providing information that is indicative of positional adjustment comprises one of projecting an image onto a portion of the patient, displaying information on a computer monitor and providing an audible cue; and (iii) measuring and recording an actual spatial position and angular orientation of the x-ray source relative to the detector and obtaining and storing the next x-ray image obtained at the measured spatial position and angular orientation; and forming a composite image using image data from the first x-ray image and from the one or more next x-ray images. determining an initial spatial position and an initial angular orientation of an x-ray source relative to a detector that is disposed within the mouth of the patient; obtaining and storing a first x-ray image from the detector with the x-ray source at the initial spatial position and angular orientation and associating the initial spatial position and angular orientation to the first x-ray image; repeating, one or more times, a sequence of: (i) calculating a next spatial position and a next angular orientation for the x-ray source relative to the detector; (ii) providing information that is indicative of positional adjustment that is between the x-ray source and detector for obtaining a next x-ray image at the next spatial position and the next angular orientation, where providing information that is indicative of positional adjustment comprises one of projecting an image onto a portion of the patient, displaying information on a computer monitor and providing an audible cue; and (iii) measuring and recording an actual spatial position and angular orientation of the x-ray source relative to the detector and obtaining and storing the next x-ray image obtained at the measured spatial position and angular orientation; and (i) calculating a next spatial position and a next angular orientation for the x-ray source relative to the detector; (ii) providing information that is indicative of positional adjustment that is between the x-ray source and detector for obtaining a next x-ray image at the next spatial position and the next angular orientation, where providing information that is indicative of positional adjustment comprises one of projecting an image onto a portion of the patient, displaying information on a computer monitor and providing an audible cue; and (iii) measuring and recording an actual spatial position and angular orientation of the x-ray source relative to the detector and obtaining and storing the next x-ray image obtained at the measured spatial position and angular orientation; and forming a composite image using image data from the first x-ray image and from the one or more next x-ray images.