- Advanced periodontal disease

- Cysts in the jaw bones

- Jaw tumors

- Impacted teeth including wisdom teeth

- Jaw disorders (also known as temporomandibular joint or TMJ disorders)

- Sinusitis

A panoramic x-ray examination requires no special preparation.

You may be asked to wear a lead apron as a safety precaution to protect the rest of your body from any radiation exposure that may scatter from the panoramic x-ray beam. You may also be asked to remove your jewellery from the region being imaged, eye glasses and any metal objects that might interfere with the x-ray images.

Women should always inform their dentist or oral surgeon if there is any possibility that they are pregnant. Many imaging tests are not performed during pregnancy so as not to expose the fetus to radiation. If an x-ray is necessary, precautions will be taken to minimize radiation exposure to the baby. 

X-rays are a form of radiation like light or radio waves. X-rays pass through most objects, including the body. Once it is carefully aimed at the part of the body being examined, an x-ray machine produces a small burst of radiation that passes through the body, recording an image on photographic film or a special detector.

During a panoramic x-ray examination, the x-ray tube rotates in a semicircle around the patient's head, starting at one side of the jaw and ending at the other.

Rather than relying on film placed inside the mouth, a panoramic x-ray machine projects a beam through the patient onto film or a detector rotating opposite the x-ray tube.

Most x-ray images are digital files that are stored electronically. These stored images are easily accessible for diagnosis and disease management.

The digital format also allows the dentist to adjust and change the contrast, brightness and darkness of the image for better visualization of certain structures and tissues. Images on film cannot be adjusted or changed.

A panoramic x-ray exam is painless, fast and easy to perform. It may be recommended over intraoral x-rays for patients that have a sensitive gag reflex.

A panoramic x-ray does not provide precise and detailed information about each individual tooth or soft tissues, such as the muscles. It is generally used as an initial evaluation of the bones and teeth. Because your mouth is curved, the panoramic x-ray can sometimes create a slightly blurry image where accurate measurements of your teeth and jaw are not possible. If your dentist or surgeon needs more information, a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be ordered. This may include Dental Cone Beam CT, an imaging exam developed specifically for this part of the body.