An OPG (Orthopantomagram) is a panoramic X-ray of the upper and lower jaws that scans from side to side. It is also sometimes called Orthopantomagraph or Panorex, which are brand names. It looks like a flattened view of a half-circle from ear to ear. With panoramic x-rays, pictures can be taken from different angles and then put together to make a single picture that shows both the upper and lower jaws. Structures that can’t be seen are blurry. During your dental care, your dentist will likely take an OPG.
OPG X-ray
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Why an OPG X-ray?
Orthopantomography is a dental technique that lets the dentist see all of a patient’s teeth, even those that haven’t come in yet, and figure out their number, position, and growth. An OPG X-ray could be used to plan orthodontic treatment, find or evaluate wisdom teeth, look at the jawbone, or get a general idea of the patient’s dental health.
What does an OPG X-ray look like, and what does it include?
A lower-face X-ray is called an OPG. Like all X-rays, it uses short bursts of low-level radiation to make pictures of the bones and teeth inside the body. Dental panoramic radiography is done by putting the patient’s chin on a small shelf in front of the X-ray machine and having them lightly bite down on a clean mouthpiece. So, the head and mouth will stay still while the pictures are taken. The panoramic X-ray machine comprises a rotating arm with the X-ray source at one end and the mechanism that takes the picture on film at the other. The arm moves around the patient’s head to get a wide view of their mouth and jaw. The process takes very little time.
For your convenience, Shanti dental clinic has an OPG machine on site. The images are made digitally and stored in your file with your other x-rays. After the OPG is taken, the image is ready in seconds, and your dentist will go over it with you at the end of the appointment. This can be done simultaneously as a dental check-up or on a separate visit. An OPG is just one of the tools your dentist will use to figure out what’s wrong and keep your teeth healthy.
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