Panoramic radiographs could be used selectively in some cases instead of as a routine diagnostic tool, researchers said on March 11 at the 83rd General Session and Exhibition of the International Association for Dental Research in Baltimore.
Researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB) School of Dental Medicine randomly selected 1,000 panoramic radiographs from the records of patients who were admitted to UB dental-school clinics between January 2000 and December 2003. The sample was composed of records from 536 women and 464 men, who had a mean age of 52 years.
Two dental experts evaluated the radiographs for evidence of bone lesions or other abnormal appearances that would indicate problems. They found 352 lesions and concluded that all but a few would have been picked up by full-mouth series radiographs.
"Nearly everything a dentist needs to know about a person’s oral health is revealed by full-mouth periapical X-rays," said Dr. Lida Radfar, senior author of the study and an assistant professor of oral diagnostic sciences, UB School of Dental Medicine.
"The only lesions that would not have been picked up on a full-mouth series," continued Dr. Radfar, "were those in the sinus cavities of the cheeks, seen on 1.5 percent of the panoramic X-rays; those in the soft tissue of the neck, revealed on 4.8 percent of panoramic X-rays; and three lesions located in the upper portion of the jaw bone close to the temporomandibular jaw joints.
"Based on our study, the panoramic X-ray has limited value," said Dr. Radfar. "Eliminating it as a routine part of dental care would expose patients to fewer X-rays, although the amount is minimal, and save costs."
