How do Panoramic X- Rays works, and why is it useful?

Visit to a dentist often means getting dental X-rays. Dental X-rays help detect dental problems and other oral health concerns. These concerns often include gum diseases, cavities, and more before these worsen. Dental X-rays can help you to get an internal image of your jaws and teeth structure that you can't see during a routine dental checkup. Such structures include sinuses, nerves, jawbones, teeth roots, etc.  

When it comes to dental X-rays, different types are available out there. Panoramic X-rays are one of these types of dental X-rays that are essential to ensure oral health and maintenance.  

“Every tooth in a man's head is more valuable than a diamond.” – Miguel de Cervantes 

Introduction to panoramic X-rays 

Dentists and oral surgeons perform panoramic X-rays commonly in their everyday practice. This dental X-ray type helps you capture the overall mouth in a single image. Panoramic X-rays utilize a minimal ionizing radiation dose.  

Panoramic X-rays also help to plan dental treatments for extractions, braces, implants, and dentures.  

Panoramic X-rays are two-dimensional X-rays that help capture the patient's entire mouth in one image. This dental X-ray can provide a view of the following: 

• All your teeth 
• Jaw Structure  
• Bones of neck and head along with other anatomical structures.  

Unlike bitewing X-rays which provide a closeup view of your teeth, panoramic X-rays can provide your head and neck overview. This detailed view can help you better diagnose dental health problems, including gum diseases. Besides that, panoramic X-rays can help you detect important issues in the surrounding tissues or jaw bones, such as oral cancer or any other abnormality. Such things are usually not detectable in bitewing X-rays.  

In addition, panoramic X-rays require little to no preparation for the procedure. However, if you are pregnant, you must tell your dental surgeon and avoid getting into the procedure.  

*Important* 

Remove the eyeglasses, jewelry, or any other metal objects you have worn, as these might interfere with the images of panoramic X-rays. Dentists or dental surgeons often ask you to wear a lead apron that will protect your body from radiation exposure.  

What can you see with panoramic X-rays? 

As discussed earlier, panoramic X-rays let your dentist view your overall dentition.  

• These X-rays allow dentists to see the entire jaw structure, including the tempero mandibular joint. Even more, panoramic X-rays may also include your sinuses' parts. 
• When all of these are included in your panoramic X-ray, it will become easier for your dentist to examine your entire maxillofacial health.  
• Perhaps the other obvious things that dentists can observe with panoramic X-rays are wisdom teeth and adult teeth progression.  
• One of the key benefits of using panoramic X-rays is the earlier detection of tumors developing inside. This is an effective way to detect bone cancer earlier.  
• There is much more to panoramic X-rays. Therefore, these X-rays are more commonly used in dental practices.  

How do panoramic X-rays work? 

X-rays are a radiation form that can pass through objects, including our bodies. The technologist will aim the X-ray beam carefully at the specific area of interest. The X-ray machine will produce a small radiation burst through the body. The radiation will then capture an image on a special detector.  

During the panoramic X-ray process, the X-ray tube will rotate around the head of the patient in a semicircle. The X-ray will start rotating from one side of the patient's jaw and end at the other end.  

Instead of relying on the film usually placed inside the mouth, a panoramic X-ray machine projects a radiation beam through the patient onto a detector or a film rotating opposite the tube.  

Most images captured with panoramic X-rays are stored electronically in digital files. Dentists can access and assess these images to better diagnose and manage dental health concerns.  

Most importantly, the digital format of panoramic X-rays can also let the dentist change or adjust the image's brightness, darkness, or contrast for improved visualization of different tissues and structures. However, you can't adjust or modify the pictures on the film.  

Why are panoramic X-rays helpful? 

Traditionally, dentists believed that panoramic X-ray resolutions aren't as good as bitewing X-rays. However, research has shown various benefits of panoramic X-rays in dentistry.  

Here we have different reasons to explain why panoramic X-rays are helpful.  

So, here we go: 

• Improved care  

A panoramic X-ray can help dentists diagnose any underlying oral problems quickly. These X-rays can even allow dentists or dental surgeons to view their patient's jaw, neck, and bone to determine whether these parts usually work together.  

Due to a detailed overview, dentists can ultimately identify tumors, cysts, jaw abnormalities, cancer, and growths more easily. Consequently, providing the proper care accordingly will also become easier and quicker.  

• Improved patient acceptance  

The x-ray is performed once only, unlike the bitewing x-rays, which are performed in series. Patients can stand or sit easily during panoramic X-ray examinations. The improved comfort experienced during the x-ray process makes it more accepted by patients.  

• Early detection  

Because the panoramic X-ray can provide a comprehensive view of your mouth, dental surgeons and dentists can easily detect dental problems at their onset. Early problem detection translates into better care and quick improvements.  

Most amazingly, early detection can also lead to cost-effective and less invasive treatments, unlike catching the problem and treating that later in the progression.  

• To get a complete image of your jaw structure and mouth  

A panoramic X-ray can give your dentist a complete image of your mouth and jaw structure. The best thing about panoramic X-rays is that they are easier to capture and ready to view quickly. Therefore, panoramic X-rays can provide exceptional benefits for diagnosing and treating dental problems.  

• Easier for staff and dentist 

Dentists can now open up contacts quickly and consistently between posterior teeth. They need to adjust the panoramic positioning light instead of setting up any sensor into the holder to place inside the patient's mouth. Therefore, panoramic X-ray capturing is easier for staff and dentists to perform.  

• Faster process  

The panoramic x-rays require only a few steps to complete the X-ray process. The staff member or a dentist has to turn the machine on and bite the patient into the groove and can get ready to view images within a few seconds.  

• Prolonged life  

Unluckily, problems like oral cancer mortality rate are high. The key reason is oral cancer is often not detected at its early stages. However, panoramic X-rays can work as a lifesaver here. This dental x-ray type can increase the chances of seeing oral cancer problems earlier. Catching the problem at the stage when it is easier to treat can ultimately ensure a prolonged life.  

• Discover any changes quickly.  

Taking panoramic X-rays after a certain period can make it easier to identify changes occurring in your mouth with time. For example, you can see any shift in your teeth' position over time. You can even specify any bone abnormalities.  

In short, panoramic X-rays help detect changes thoroughly.  

Overall, panoramic X-rays are used for multiple reasons and can help dentists view your oral health condition best.  

Final Thoughts  

Panoramic X-rays help capture at different stages. These X-rays can undoubtedly help in assessing the need for adequate orthodontic care. Panoramic X-rays can even be taken at any age. For example, dentists capture panoramic X-rays in teens to provide better orthodontic care and examine their wisdom teeth growth.  

At the same time, they also use this x-ray for adults to help detect any oral cancer-related signs earlier, identify TMJ problems, view growths, cysts, or any other abnormalities in detail, and then provide their patients with adequate treatment accordingly. 

Contact your dentist in Union City, Dr. Zafar Sayeedi, at Noble Dental Care to know more about why dental core beam computer tomography is useful.

Resource:

Why is dental core beam computer tomography useful?

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