What Are Panoramic Dental X-rays?
You come into the dental office for your routine checkup, and the dentist determines that she’d like to get an x-ray of your teeth. You’ve likely had x-rays in the past, so you know the process – biting on a piece of plastic and holding very still while the dentist or hygienist points a specialized x-ray camera at your teeth.
This time, however, you’re introduced to something very different – a digital panoramic x-ray machine that rotates around your face. You’re likely filled with questions. What is this machine? How does it work? Is it safe? Effective? Can I trust it with my health?
Panoramic x-rays are one of the latest tools in modern dentistry. With a little better understanding, you’ll see why many dentists are turning to them for so many of their x-ray needs.
How They Work
Panoramic x-rays, also called panoramic radiography, use a small dose of ionizing radiation to create a complete image of the mouth. The digital radiographic camera is designed to spin around the face, scanning the entire jaw from one side to the other. This produces a flat image of all the teeth, which the dentist can use to identify any issues, such as cavities, infection, or an impacted tooth.
Why Panoramic X-rays Are Useful
Panoramic x-rays have several positive points that are winning dentists over. For one, having a single complete image of the mouth provides a fuller picture of how the different teeth are interacting, highlighting alignment and bite issues that might not be as clear from a series of smaller images.
More importantly, they allow the dentist a better view of how your overall facial structure impacts your teeth, including your sinus cavities, jaw bone, and throat. In many cases, panoramic x-rays are used to make a preliminary diagnosis of sleep apnea, a pervasive sleep disorder, which can lead to a referral and an official diagnosis by a specialist.
Are Panoramic X-rays Dangerous?
One of the concerns with any x-ray technology is radiation, something that is constantly present but only somewhat understood by most. A question often asked is if these x-rays, which map out your entire jaw, nose, and throat, are more likely to cause harmful radiation exposure than traditional x-rays.
The opposite is true. Thanks to advances in technology, digital panoramic x-rays can achieve a clear and accurate picture while using only a fraction of the radiation needed in standard film x-rays. This makes them much safer for both you and the dental staff.
Dr. Susan Bracker utilizes panoramic x-rays as part of her patient-focused dental services. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact our Rochester office today.