Glossary

A panoramic radiograph is a special type of x-ray that utilizes a minuscule amount of ionizing radiation to produce a single image of the entire mouth. This includes the mandible, maxilla, teeth, and surrounding tissues and structures. While bitewing radiographs and other intraoral x-rays are often still done, the panoramic x-ray has become integral to the diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of oral and dental health conditions. Unlike other types of radiographs, it provides dental professionals with information about possible bone abnormalities, the position of the teeth and their roots in relation to each other across the entire mouth, and the maxillary sinuses. Panoramic radiographs are often used by dentists to diagnose gingivitis (periodontal disease), oral cancer, tumors in the jaw, sinusitis, jaw bone cysts, impacted wisdom teeth, and TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) and other jaw disorders. There is no special preparation needed for patients to undergo a panoramic x-ray.

A panoramic reconstruction is a thin, reformatted section of computed tomography (CT) scan data which is parallel to and following the curvature of the alveolar process as seen in the axial view. Data from a panoramic reconstruction scan can be used in dental applications for the diagnosis of disease. It is also commonly used in implant dentistry to provide a detailed image of the maxilla, maxillary sinuses, and the mandible. There are several advantages of the panoramic reconstruction scan which include the ease of identifying opposing landmarks, the convenience and speed of performance, the information provided on vertical bone height, and the ability to evaluate pathologic findings. Despite these advantages, there are a few concerns regarding the use of panoramic reconstruction as well. These include errors caused by improper patient positioning, the fact it does not show bone quality, and spatial relationships between structures can be difficult to identify.