A panoramic dental x-ray provides a clear view of all teeth in one image, identifying problems with wisdom teeth and potential dental problems. It uses special film and is not placed in the patient’s mouth. It takes several minutes to complete and produces less radiation than a chest x-ray. It is not needed every year and is covered by most dental insurance policies.
Today the dentist uses many types of x-rays. A panoramic dental x-ray is a panoramic image of a person’s entire mouth. This provides the dentist with a clear view of all the teeth in one image, which gives him a better understanding of the health and placement of the teeth in the jaw bone.
A panoramic dental x-ray is especially important for identifying problems with your wisdom teeth. These are the teeth in the back of the mouth. A plain x-ray has difficulty capturing the entire wisdom tooth due to the depth of the root area.
The x-ray provides a broad view of the entire mouth area, which gives the dentist insight into other potential dental problems. This photo includes the jaw, neck, and sinus areas of the human head. This can help a dentist determine any misalignment of the jaw area, which can affect a person’s chewing habits.
Panoramic radiography uses special film that is not placed in the patient’s mouth. This is different than a standard X-ray of the bite wing. The panoramic x-ray uses advanced technology that reads through the head and teeth, similar to a chest x-ray.
Most dentists do a panoramic dental x-ray on the first visit. This provides a quick photo of your teeth to help your dentist determine potential decay. A dentist often requests additional single photos for specific dental problems identified in the panoramic view.
A panoramic dental X-ray takes several minutes to complete. The dentist will typically ask the patient to sit still while the mechanical X-ray machines move around the head. This process is painless but can be slightly intimidating.
Many people are concerned with the radiation dosage of the X-ray machines at the dentist. This type of x-ray is modest compared to standard chest x-rays. The X-ray produces about two-thirds less radiation than a typical chest X-ray. This dosage is equivalent to three standard tooth photographs.
A panoramic dental X-ray is not needed every year. Most dentists require a new landscape reading every five years. This provides adequate review and coverage to determine potential problems with the jaw area or wisdom teeth.
Most dental insurance policies will cover a panoramic dental X-ray at infrequent intervals. This x-ray is more expensive than a standard bite wing x-ray, but is considered more efficient because it covers your entire mouth with a photo. It’s best to review your specific dental policy before seeing your dentist to figure out what costs will be covered.
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