Extra-Oral Radiographs

Today our lecture is about panoramic radiography and extra oral radiography. Panoramic radiograph is an extra-oral radiograph. Its also called (Orthopantomograms). that is used to examine the upper and lower jaws on a single film. When taking a panoramic radiograph the patient may stand up or sit down depending on the type of machine. The head, chin & the occlusal plane must be in correct position. The source of radiation always moves behind the patient and the film in front of the patient. Panoramic radiograph is called 2D modality however it is highly used it shows the mandible, maxillary sinuses &TMJ all in 1 radiograph. Nowadays we have other 3D modalities (like cone beam CT) & we use these modalities to generate panoramic radiograph. (We can also generate panoramic radiograph from 3D images.) We also have normal panoramic radiographs. (search for the differences) I am sure many of you took a panoramic radiograph when u went to ur dentist to check your dental status, old teeth, sinuses. It is also the 1st step to see abnormalities in TMJ & is commonly used to see the status & position of 3rd molars. Radiation dose is equal to 4-5 times more than intra-oral films which is not a lot. Around 50 landmarks can be seen in the radiograph. Doctor said we should search about them. Panoramic radiograph can also show us pathology, but its resolution is not as good as intraoral radiograph so we cant depend on panorama to show us caries or periodontal problems. Most common anatomy landmarks are in this pic.

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We are expected to memorize all of them. Why? To differentiate the normal from abnormal anatomy. Now we are going to talk about soft tissues that can be seen on the panoramic radiograph 1-tongue 2-soft palate 3-ear lobe soft tissues appear radiopaque in comparison with air. We have 3 air spaces: 1- Between the tongue and palate. Its called 2- Between the nose and pharynx. Its called

palatoglossus / glossopalatine air space nasopharygeal air space glossopharyngeal / oropharyngeal air

3 Between the oral cavity and pharynx. Its called space.

Comparison between tomography and scanography: Tomography means sections, panoramic will not be taken as a single shot the machine rotates at least 180 degrees & then forms the image. Tomography is a radiographic technique that allows the imaging of one layer or section of the body while blurring images from structures in other planes. Scanography is the rotation of x-ray tube on x focal axis so that another x-ray beam scans the y axis.

ROTATION CENTERS In panoramic radiograph the film or cassette carrier and X-ray tube head are connected and rotate simultaneously around a patient during exposure. The pivotal point or axis around which the cassette carrier and X-ray tube head rotate is termed a rotation center. Some machines have 2 or 3 rotational points depending on the manufacturer. Their function is to facilitate getting the real dimension of the jaws and to get a clear final image. Double-center rotation Triple-center rotation Moving center rotation FOCAL TROUGH We have another term called focal trough or image layer which is the differentiation of focal trough: its a three dimensional curved zone in which the structures are clearly demonstrated on panoramic radiograph. Structures out of the focal trough will not appear clear on the radio graph, this is imaginary, some machines will allow you to choose the shape of the focal trough, so by choosing a narrow focal through that suits the patients jaw this is going to give you a clear radiograph. If I increase the width of the focal trough the final panoramic radiograph will not be clear. EQUIPMENT: The doctor started to view images about the machine that we use in our clinic we have ways to make u see the lines. We have 2 lines & there are buttons to adjust the lines like the midsagittal line which has to be perpendicular to the floor. And Frankfurt line, which is coming from the upper border of the external auditory meatus to the lower border or the orbital rim, parallel to the floor.

I will summarize what u have to do when u have a patient in your clinic and u want to do a panoramic radiograph: 1. The patient comes to you, you must make him stand straight as tall as possible. 2. The patient should not slump or bend since this will result in a shadow in the middle of the radiograph. 3. The patient bites on the bite block and make sure the teeth are edge to egde & tongue is on the palate. 4. If tongue must on the palate, by asking the patient to put his tongue on the palate or ask him to swallow. If it is not on the palate this will obscure the clearance of the maxillary teeth. The plastic side of the cassette must be facing the tubehead. What is the difference between panoramic radiograph machine & intra-oral radiograph machine? 1. Its the collimator, the collimator in panoramic machine is a vertical narrow slit it's not rectangular or round like normal machines, the collimator is in the tube head and there is also vertical slits in the cassette. 2. The vertical angulation of the tube head in not varied. The tube head is fixed in position so that the x-ray beam is directed slightly upward. Panoramic radiograph is a kind of tomography which deals with section. You are building sections until the cycle is finished. Sometimes if the patient is huge the tube head will stop suddenly from rotating (which prevent some sections to appear in your final image) & other times it will continue. Number of tomography images taken depends on the machine & its type. HEAD POSITION the head position consists of a chin rest for the patients chin. Notched Bite block is there for the patient to bite on, forehead rest and lateral head support. Sometimes the shadow of the head support may appear on the radiograph. If you put frankfurt line parallel with the floor and the patients forehead on the forehead rest, then you can notice that the occlusal plane is slightly downward inclined and the beam is slightly come downward. You can choose the side you want to capture, with the controllers of the machine which control time, voltage and mille ampere to make the radiograph. However, the machine usually comes with a fixed time. The extra oral film must be inside of the cassette. We have several types of cassettes: green light cassette and blue lights cassettes and it depends on the type of phosphor used and the

screen spectrum must match the phosphor spectrum. There are different types of cassettes such as rigid, flexible, curved and straight depending on the panoramic x-ray unit. PURPOSE & USE We use it to see all the teeth in the both jaws in the same image. To evaluate impacted teeth To evaluate eruption patterns, growth, and Development. assessing wisdom teeth this is a very important although as I told you nowadays due to cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) 3D imaging is considered the golden standard in assessing the relationship between the third molar and the canal. Using Panormic radiography you can sometimes see a shadow of the canal superimposed in the third molars (due to loss of bone, loss of cortical bone at that area) but this doesnt happen with CBCT. 5. To examine fractures of the mandible. 6. To Detect Diseases (periodontal diseases there is loss of bone and vertical healing), lesions, and conditions of the jaws. Its inadequate to use panorama to detect lesions much better than intra-oral radiograph. 7. Assessment of locations of the objects in the jaw and permanent teeth impacted by using panorama. Usually lingually impacted looks high and magnified 8. To Examine the extent of Large lesions 9. To Evaluate Trauma. & fractures of the mandible and the bilateral/contralateral condyle fracture 10.Examination of the sinuses nasal cavity orbit 11. Examination of the sinuses nasal cavity orbit 12.Before and after implants: usually when the patient comes to you and he wants to do an implant you can start by taking a panoramic radiograph or peri apical radiograph. However, panorama is not enough because panorama tells you if there is bone but you have to do another test by cone beam CT to make sure. If panorama shows you that there is no bone then you have to stop and ask the patient to go home. Advantages: 1) Comfortable for the patient because there is no film inside the mouth 2) Easy to use for the incooperative patient like edentulous patients, children, old people. 3) Less exposure if you want to compare it with CMS (complete mouth survey) 1. 2. 3. 4.

4) Wide coverage for mandible and maxilla 5) Reduce superimposition in anatomical structures Disadvantages 1) Equipment cost. Initial cost of the machine is relatively high. 2) Image quality. The images of the radiograph are not sharp compared to intra-oral images, the resolution of the panoramic image is 4 lines per millimeter but the intra oral is 5 times sharper than panorama. 3) Objects outside the focal trough may not be evident. 4) Age limitation. Not suitable for children under 5 years of age because of the relatively long exposure time. 5) Dark room processing (like students in the center because there is no safe light they have to change the film in the dark each time). 6) Changing of the bite block because of hygienic purposes. It has to be sterilized and covered. 7) Minimal bone changes cannot be detected in the panoramic radiograph due to super imposition.

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Patient preparation Explain the radiographic procedures to be performed. Place lead apron, without thyroid collar not to block the the x-ray beam and also double sided lead apron is recommended ( one that protect the patient from the front and the back. Remove all objects from the head and neck area. earrings , necklaces, napkin chain eyeglasses. And complete and partial dentures instruct the patient to Stand or sit (as tall as possible) with straight back, the vertebral column must be straight to prevent white shadow to appear over the middle of the radiograph. Patient must bite a plastic bite block, the front teeth should be placed in end to end position in the notch found on the bite block, and this groove will align the teeth and the jaw in the focal trough area.

COMMON ERRORS

>> Ghost image: is a radiopaque artifact seen on panoramic film that is produced when a
radiodense object penetrated twice by the X-ray beam. This object is between the source and the rotational center appears on the radiograph as an object indistinct, higher and magnified the object is located behind the rotational center. usually are the projected image of a real bony structure to the opposite side of the image. And a metal earrings glasses and it will appear radio opaque. Ghost Images

1. Image from other side of patients jaw that is seen as a blurred shadow 2. Results from radiodense objects left on patient during exposure 3. Resembles its real counterpart 4. Found on opposite side of film as blurred, enlarged and higher than actual object

2) Wearing thyroid collar blocks the x-ray beam 3) If the patient is not in supine position.

Patient positioning errors 2) Exaggerated smile line of the mandible due to chin tilted down so the incisor will appear larger. This happens due to downward Frankfurt plane, students usually lose marks with this preoperative radiograph.

3) Reverse smile/flat mandible line: Occurs when the chin is tilted upwards & the head backwards. This will result in superimposition of the teeth, palate and they will also appear magnified. 4) Inward position of the teeth related to the focal trough. If teeth are anterior to the focal trough it will be smaller because its near the film but if the teeth are behind the focal trough it will appear magnified and large because its far away from the film. 5) Teeth are not edge to edge even if it is in the focal trough. 7) If the patient moves during the procedure there will be magnification on one side and magnification on the other side. Ex. if the patient moves to the right; the right side will be magnified because its far away from the film and the other side will be minified because its closer.

PLZ CHECK THE PDF FILE FOR THE ERRORS

End of part 1