Panoramic x-rays show the entire area of the mouth and all the teeth of the upper and lower jaw on a single x-ray. This x-ray detects the position of fully emerged and emerging teeth, can see impacted teeth, and helps diagnose tumors. A complete oral x-ray is composed of a series of individual images, including a combination of bites and periapical images. X-rays of the entire mouth are usually taken when you're a new patient in the dentist's office.
They use these initial images as a reference for oral health. However, x-rays of the entire mouth are often taken when the dentist suspects that you have a cyst or tumor in your jaw. They are also used for major dental work, such as root canals, extractions, and treatment of gum disease. Regular checkups and annual dental x-rays can help the dentist detect oral health problems before they worsen, preventing more invasive and expensive treatments at a later date.
Rather than relying on a film placed inside the mouth, a panoramic X-ray machine projects a beam through the patient onto a film or detector that rotates in the opposite direction of the X-ray tube. Instead of showing an X-ray film in a dark room, the x-rays are sent directly to a computer. and can be viewed on the screen, stored or printed. Panoramic dental radiography uses a very small dose of ionizing radiation to capture the entire mouth in a single image.
A panoramic x-ray, also called a panoramic x-ray, is a two-dimensional (2D) dental x-ray that captures the entire mouth in a single image, including the teeth, upper and lower jaw, surrounding structures and tissues. While some people need x-rays more frequently, current guidelines require that x-rays be performed only when necessary for clinical diagnosis. A number of other dental x-rays are used to detect specific abnormalities, such as tumors and salivary gland problems. Exposure to all sources of radiation, such as the sun, minerals in the earth, household appliances and dental x-rays, can damage tissues and cells in the body and cause the development of cancer.
Dental x-rays help dentists visualize diseases of the teeth and surrounding tissue that cannot be seen with a simple oral exam.
