Orthopantogram
An OPG is a radiograph that is taken externally and shows a panoramic view of the entire dentition, alveolar bone, and other adjacent structures on a single film.
Reasons for OPG requests
Dental Disease
- 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.
- Periodontal Abscess – Radiolucent area surrounding the roots of the teeth.
Extraction of teeth (e.g. wisdom teeth)
- OPG shows angulation, shape of roots, size and shape of crown, effect on other teeth.
Teeth Abnormalities
- E.g. Developmental, to show size, number, shape and position.
Trauma to teeth and facial skeleton
- 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.
Transplant workup
- To look for evidence of any underlying dental disease (e.g. abscess)
- Patients on steroids after a transplant are immunosuppressed and the mouth is a common site of infection.
