10. Panoramic Imaging Flashcards
What is panoramic imaging?
A technique producing a 2D curved image of dental arches and supporting structures.
What are the indications for panoramic imaging?
Overall dentition evaluation, detecting intraosseous pathology, TMJ evaluation, impacted teeth, eruption monitoring, trauma, and developmental disturbances.
What are the advantages of panoramic imaging?
Broad coverage, low radiation dose, simple technique, suitable for trismus, convenient, and useful for education.
What are the disadvantages of panoramic imaging?
Lower resolution, unequal magnification, superimposition of structures, positioning sensitivity, and issues with severe jaw discrepancies.
What is the focal trough in panoramic imaging?
A curved zone where structures are clearly defined; objects farther from the center become blurred.
What are real, double, and ghost images in panoramic imaging?
Real: Objects between center of rotation and receptor. Double: Objects between moving center and receptor. Ghost: Objects between X-ray source and center of rotation.
Why is patient positioning important in panoramic imaging?
Errors can cause distorted or unclear images, emphasizing the need for correct positioning.
What is the Frankfort plane alignment?
Aligns the external acoustic meatus to the inferior orbital margin horizontally.
What happens if the tongue is not resting against the roof of the mouth during imaging?
Palatoglossal air space appears, creating a black area and obscuring maxillary pathology.
What are the effects of positioning teeth too anterior in the focal trough?
Anterior teeth appear narrow, with horizontal plane issues and reduced magnification.
What are the effects of positioning teeth too posterior in the focal trough?
Anterior teeth appear enlarged, with fuzzy images and increased magnification.
What errors occur if the head is tilted upward or downward during imaging?
Head up: Squared-off mandible and hard palate superimposition. Head down: āVā shaped mandible and exaggerated smile.
What is the Washington Monument artifact?
Occurs when cervical vertebrae block the X-ray beam, creating a radiopaque area in the center of the film.
What should be considered during panoramic interpretation?
Careful evaluation of landmarks like the hard palate, cervical spine, and mandible to avoid misinterpretation.
