Dental X-ray diagnostics with the orthopantomography - Technique and typical imaging results

Despite the increasing use of modern digital cross-sectional imaging techniques (especially digital volume tomography) in dental X-ray examinations, orthopantomography remains the widely available, commonly used basic imaging modality for evaluating dental status prior to extensive treatment. It is also used for inflammatory and tumorous odontogenic osseous pathologies which are demonstrated with typical imaging findings. The classical X-ray tomography principle has been further developed for the presentation of the differently wide, shape variants of dental arches. The examination unit, consisting of a rigidly connected X-ray tube and detector, runs on an elliptical path around the facial skull. Thereby different rotation centers are controlled. Due to the different distances of the jaw sections to the X-ray tube and the image receiver, differencing velocities result and thus blurring effects as the basis of the layer or slice representation. Slit collimators lead to a narrow and continuous line-like representation of the different widths of the dental arch.