A method of determining and recording at least one anatomical feature of a patient, and of controlling an x-ray apparatus for making an x-ray recording of an oral area of the patient, comprising the steps: - preparing at least one bite device , wherein the bite device is suitable for use with the x-ray apparatus for recording the image of at least one oral area of the patient, and comprises one bite area , which at least partially comes into contact with at least one oral element of the patient when bitten down by the patient; and at least one sensor device , by means of which, at least partially, at least one feature of the anatomical structure of the patient is recordable in the bite area; - biting down of the patient on the bite area with at least one oral element, - recording of at least one anatomical structure by means of the sensor device, wherein the anatomical feature is determined on the basis of the recorded anatomical structure, characterized in that on the basis of the anatomical feature, at least one recording parameter, including a sharp layer, alignment of a radiation source or a radiation detector, one x-ray dose of the radiation source, one recording area of the x-ray apparatus, an irradiation angle of the x-ray apparatus, an aperture position of the x-ray apparatus or a radiation spectrum of the x-ray apparatus is or are determined, wherein the x-ray apparatus is controlled at least in part on the basis of the determined recording parameter, and (i) the recording of the anatomical structure is also conducted at least at times while the x-ray recording is being made, wherein the anatomical feature is repositioned and a recording parameter is re-determined while the recording is being made, and if the anatomical feature is repositioned and a recording parameter is re-determined, then (ii) the recording is interrupted when the repositioned anatomical feature and the re-determined recording parameter lie outside a predetermined range. - preparing at least one bite device , wherein the bite device is suitable for use with the x-ray apparatus for recording the image of at least one oral area of the patient, and comprises one bite area , which at least partially comes into contact with at least one oral element of the patient when bitten down by the patient; and at least one sensor device , by means of which, at least partially, at least one feature of the anatomical structure of the patient is recordable in the bite area; wherein the bite device is suitable for use with the x-ray apparatus for recording the image of at least one oral area of the patient, and comprises one bite area , which at least partially comes into contact with at least one oral element of the patient when bitten down by the patient; and at least one sensor device , by means of which, at least partially, at least one feature of the anatomical structure of the patient is recordable in the bite area; - biting down of the patient on the bite area with at least one oral element, - recording of at least one anatomical structure by means of the sensor device, (i) the recording of the anatomical structure is also conducted at least at times while the x-ray recording is being made, wherein the anatomical feature is repositioned and a recording parameter is re-determined while the recording is being made, and if the anatomical feature is repositioned and a recording parameter is re-determined, then (ii) the recording is interrupted when the repositioned anatomical feature and the re-determined recording parameter lie outside a predetermined range. <EOS>