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An x-ray (orthopantomogram) of all teeth is the so-called “dental passport”, which contains data on their condition and structure. Also, a panoramic picture of the teeth is taken to obtain information about their rudiments, the state of the maxillary sinuses and temporomandibular joints.
Orthopantomography is an effective diagnostic method in dentistry, maxillofacial surgery, and cosmetology. The research method allows you to get a detailed picture of all teeth, jaws, adjacent parts of the facial skeleton.
Orthopantomogram is a study that many dentists call the “gold standard” in dentistry. After all, detailed pictures allow you to see hidden diseases, inflammatory processes and pathological changes in the tissues of teeth and bones. An orthopantomogram is obligatory in preparation for prosthetics, it allows you to make a correct diagnosis and start a course of therapy.
Benefits of an orthopantomogram
An orthopantomogram (abbreviated as OPTG) is a diagnosis of two jaws with their surrounding soft tissues and bone structure. A correctly taken picture will give the dentist reliable information about the structure of the dentition.
The doctor can examine only about 50-55% of the tissues of the patient’s oral cavity visually, the remaining 45-50% are left without examination. Even a professional in his field will not do without an orthopantomographic x-ray.
The finished image can be printed on paper, a special X-ray film, transferred to electronic media or analyzed from a computer monitor. All images are stored in the computer’s memory, so the doctor can open the image at any time and look at the results.
An orthopantomogram of the teeth helps to determine: caries on the surfaces and in the roots of the teeth, the condition of the maxillary sinuses, the presence of impacted teeth (completely not erupted from the gums or partially erupted), neoplasms and pathologies of the jaw bones, at what stage of eruption are the teeth in children, the general condition of periodontal tissues and interdental septa, the presence of granulomas, periradicular abnormal changes and cysts.
One of the modern and effective varieties of orthopantomography is 3D tomography (obtaining three-dimensional images of teeth and nearby tissues). With the help of tomography, it is possible to examine the human jaw in real time, since the images taken in different projections are displayed on the computer monitor (a specific area under study is studied in layers).
Indications for orthopantomography
Diagnosis of teeth is completely painless, done very quickly and with a minimum number of contraindications. OPTG is prescribed during implant therapy in order to assess the condition of the bones and select a design. If it is incorrect to calculate the distance to the mandibular canal, this threatens to lose or impair the sensitivity of the lips (most often the lower lip) and chin.
An orthopantomogram is needed to assess the effectiveness of endodontic therapy and the condition of the roots of the teeth, as well as before the prosthetic procedure. Orthopantomography is prescribed before the installation of a bracket system and a multibonding system.
The study is done during surgical interventions, after the operation to remove wisdom teeth. Diagnosis is recommended when changing bites.
It is advisable to conduct a study of the teeth to determine periodontal disease (deep damage to the periodontal tissue). “Passport of teeth” is done to assess their condition in children during the development of the rudiments and the eruption of the first teeth. An orthopantomogram is needed for the diagnosis and control of neoplasms in the early stages.
Pros and cons of dental x-rays
The benefits of OPTG include:
- the speed of the procedure (diagnosis takes only a few minutes, while the picture will be taken within 10-15 minutes and given to the patient);
- the ability to adjust the height of the apparatus, due to which an orthopantomogram is done for children and people in wheelchairs;
- a small dose of X-ray exposure (a person receives the same dose of radiation during one flight on an airplane, which is why the study is considered the safest and practically harmless);
- the picture can be sent anywhere in the world using the global Internet, it is very convenient when the attending doctor is in another city or country;
- obtaining high-quality images that can be enlarged several times in the process of studying the condition of the patient’s teeth;
- the procedure is prescribed for elderly patients and people with developmental disorders, since the study is safe and does not harm a person’s well-being.
It is not recommended to do an orthopantomogram for pregnant women (it is completely forbidden to carry out diagnostics in the first trimester, because at this time the process of formation of future organs begins in the child in the womb). This diagnosis may be prohibited or its implementation may be questionable if the patient has a number of health complaints. OPTG is carried out exclusively in the direction of the dentist.
The downside of the procedure is only the high cost, but getting accurate results and timely detection of hidden diseases are worth that kind of money.
Stages of the study
OPTG is performed on a special device called an orthopantomograph. Orthopantomographs can be film and digital. Modern devices provide informative pictures, according to which it is not difficult for a dentist to make an accurate diagnosis.
Before doing an orthopantomogram, the patient will be asked to remove all metal jewelry and structures located in the head and neck area (hairpins, elastic bands, chains, earrings). To protect a person from radiation, he is put on a protective suit. Next, the patient should stand inside the apparatus and firmly clamp the plastic tube with his teeth (lips should be kept closed). If some teeth are missing, the specialist places cotton rolls instead.
Then the plate of the orthopantomograph is moved tightly to the chest, the person must grab the special handles with both hands to fix his position and not make unnecessary movements. During the procedure, the radiologist may ask you to turn or tilt your head to get more detail on the image.
When the patient has taken the right place and does not move, the apparatus begins to rotate around the head for 25-30 seconds. Opposite the tube is a special detector that reads the data and displays it on the monitor. After the end of the study, the patient needs to wait about 10 minutes to receive a picture deciphered by the radiologist with a conclusion. With the results of the study, you should go to the dentist.