![]() ![]() Radiographs of all types, whether they are dental or medical, should only be taken if there is a clinical need for the information they provide. Regarding whether it is safe for a child to have a panoramic radiograph, the answer depends on why it is recommended.The eyes may be in the path of the very top edge of the x-ray beam, depending on the size of the patient, but because the beam comes in from the back of the head, there is no direct exposure to the eyes. Regarding exposure of the eyes and brain, it is unlikely that the brain will be exposed due to the vertical size of the x-ray beam and its location focused on the jaws.However, many dentists and patients feel more comfortable using it and for that reason it is typically offered. Because the radiation dose from panoramic radiography is so low and the beam is aiming upwards, it is not necessary to use the leaded apron. The leaded apron, however, will not interfere with the image because it is not in the path of the x-ray beam. Because the x-ray beam goes around the back of the head with a slight upward angle, a shadow of the thyroid shield gets projected over the lower front teeth, essentially hiding them from view. A leaded thyroid shield is NOT recommended for use during panoramic radiography.Of all the x-ray techniques available to image the teeth of both jaws and some surrounding tissue, like the jaw joints in front of the ear, panoramic radiography requires the lowest radiation dose. The x-ray beam has a slight upward tilt in order to provide the best image. Even though it takes 12–20 seconds to expose the image, depending on the specific machine, only a tiny fraction of the head is being exposed at a time due to the narrow beam. A very narrow slit of x rays travels around the back of the patient's head, roughly from one ear to the other (it does not make a complete circle around the head) while the digital sensor or film cassette moves around the front of the patient. In order to answer your questions, I would like to explain briefly how the panoramic radiograph is made. That machine has not been made for many years and in the United States the term "panoramic radiograph," sometimes shortened to "pano" or "pan," is more typically used. "OPG" was the brand name of a specific dental panoramic x-ray machine, the OrthoPantomogram. While the "dental OPG" terminology is used frequently in several countries, it is not common in the United States so I will define it for others who may not know the term.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |