What a panoramic radiograph shows
A panoramic image captures both jaws in a single view. It shows what sits below the gum: tooth roots, the bone level around each tooth, developing wisdom teeth, and the relationship to the maxillary sinus and the inferior alveolar nerve canal.
Four things read first
- Bone level - a bone line that has dropped away from the tooth neck indicates periodontal disease.
- Periapical radiolucency - suggests infection at the root apex.
- Wisdom teeth - eruption angle and distance to the nerve canal.
- Existing restorations - marginal gaps or recurrent decay beneath a filling or crown.
Why imaging comes before planning
Implant placement, wisdom tooth removal and root canal treatment all depend on structures that cannot be seen visually. Any plan proposed before imaging is provisional.
About radiation dose
The dose from a dental radiograph is very low compared with everyday background radiation. Even so, patients who are pregnant should tell the clinician before imaging.
This page helps you understand our clinical thinking and ask better questions; the final treatment plan is confirmed after an in-person examination.