Chapter 25: Panoramic Imaging Flashcards
Principles, Equipment and Guidelines of Panoramic Imaging
List the three main components of the panoramic machine.
- x-ray tubehead
- head positioner
- exposure controls
Define the term: edentulous patient
a patient without teeth
Define the term: radiolucency
an area on a dental image appears radiolucent ((dark/black) due to readily allowing the passage of the x-ray beam so that more x-rays reach the image receptor
If the patient’s teeth are incorrectly positioned anterior to the focal trough, how does the image appear?
the anterior teeth appear narrow and distorted and a pronounced overlap of the premolars occur
Define the term: maxillary sinuses
paired cavities or compartments of bone located within the maxilla and located superior to the maxillary posterior teeth (appear radiolucent)
How should the patient position their lips during a panoramic exposure?
closed around the bite block
How do the structures located within the focal trough appear?
well-defined
Which part(s) of the head positioner stabilizes the patient’s anterior-posterior plane?
the chin rest and bite block
Does the panoramic tubehead rotate behind or in front of the patient’s head?
behind
Define the term: extraoral receptor
an image receptor is placed outside the mouth to examine large areas of the skull or jaws
Define the term: sinus
a hollow space, cavity, or recess in bone (appears radiolucent)
How do you prevent a ghost image from occurring on a panoramic image?
instruct the patient to remove all radiodense objects in the head or neck region prior to exposure
Define the term: Frankfort plane
the imaginary plane that intersects the orbital rim of the eye and opening of the ear
Why is a panoramic image contraindicated when diagnosing caries, periodontal disease, or periapical lesions?
the images are not as defined or sharp as intraoral images
Define the term: dentition
the character of a set of teeth, including their number, kind, and location/arrangement
How should the patient position their tongue during a panoramic exposure?
against the palate
Define the term: posterior
towards the back
Define the term: panoramic receptor
an image receptor used in panoramic examinations that show a wide view of the maxilla and mandible
Should a thyroid collar be used when exposing a panoramic image?
No
Define the term: mandible
the lower jaw
Define the term: focal trough / image layer
a three-dimensional curved zone in which structures are clearly demonstrated on a panoramic image
Define the term: contrast
- how sharply dark and light areas are differentiated or separated on an image
- the difference in the degrees of blackness (densities) between adjacent areas on a dental image
Define the term: density
the overall darkness or blackness of an image
Define the term: maxilla
the upper jaw
Define the term: edentulous
- without teeth
- an area where teeth are no longer present
Define the term: midsagittal plane
an imaginary line or plane passing through the center of the body that divides it into right and left halves