An OPG or “ORTHOPANTOGRAM”, gives a panoramic view of the mandible and teeth.
It is performed using a technique called “tomography”. The X-ray tube moves around the head, the x-ray film moves in the opposite direction behind your head. This generates an image slice where the mandible and teeth are in focus, and the other structures are blurred.
* Caries – appear as different shaped areas of radiolucency in the crowns or necks of teeth.
* Peridontioiditis – when inflammation extends into the underlying alveolar bone and there is a loss of attachment.
* Peridontal Abscess – Radiolucent area surrounding the roots of the teeth.
* OPG shows angulation, shape of roots, size and shape of crown, effect on other teeth.
* Eg. Developmental, to show size, number, shape and position.
* Mandible fractures are often bilateral.
* Panoramic view of mandible to view the fracture.
* Determine site and direction of fracture lines.
* Relationship of teeth to fracture lines.
* Alignment of bone fragments after healing.
* Evidence of infection or other complications post intervention.
* Follow up to assess healing.
* To look for evidence of any underlying dental disease (eg. abscess)
* Patients on steriods after a transplant are immunosuppressed and the mouth is a common site of infection.
