The Panoramic X-ray Gives Dr. Michel the Big Picture
Dental X-rays, also called radiographs, are an important tool for the dentist. The three most common types of dental X-rays are the bitewing, periapical and panoramic X-rays. Bitewing X-rays are those that are taken during most routine dental check-ups and are useful for revealing dental cavities between the teeth. Periapical X-rays show the entire tooth, including the roots, as well as the bone surrounding them. A full series of x-rays or FMX is a set of 14 periapicals and 4 bitewing xrays that gives us a complete detailed view of the teeth. These X-rays are useful in helping to diagnose a dental abscess, a cavitiy as well as periodontal gum disease. The third type of x-ray commonly used in dentistry — the panoramic X-ray gives a broad overview of the entire mouth. This X-ray supplies information about the teeth, upper and lower jawbone, sinuses, and other hard and soft tissues of the head and neck.
One advantage of the panoramic X-ray is its ease of use. Unlike other X-rays where the film is placed inside the patient’s mouth, the panoramic film is contained in a machine that moves around the patient’s head. Some people may be familiar with the panoramic X-ray because it is usually taken when the wisdom teeth are being evaluated. The X-ray will also reveal deep cavities and dental gum disease, but it is not as precise as bitewing or periapical X-rays. The panoramic X-ray has many other applications, including evaluating patients with past or present TMJ or jaw joint problems; those who require full or partial removable dentures, dental implants or dental braces; those who are at risk or suspected of having oral cancer symptoms or other tumors of the jaw, have impacted teeth (especially impacted wisdom teeth) or have had any recent trauma to the face or teeth (i.e. can help identify a fractured jaw); and for those who can not tolerate other types of films (severe gaggers).
The panoramic X-ray can also identify some not so common problems, such as calcification within the carotid artery that may indicate the potential for a stroke. In one unusually situation, a patient who mentioned that he had suffered for years with recurrent sinus infections.A panoramic X-ray was taken that revealed an infected tooth–upside-down and stuck in his sinus!
The panoramic X-ray is an important part of a thorough dental examination. Dr. Michel usually recommend a panoramic X-ray once every four years for most patients and an FMX every three years. The panoramic x-ray does not provide as much detail when evaluating the teeth and gums as other dental x-rays, it can pick-up potential problems that the other x-rays cannot. This is why Dr. Michel recommends both x-rays for a comprehensive exam.
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