ABSTRACT
Diagnostic imaging is an important adjunct to the clinical assessment of the dental patient. Two-dimensional (2D) planar images from intraoral (periapical and bitewing) and extra-oral (dental panoramic and cephalometric) radiographic techniques are the most commonly acquired (see Section II, Chapter 22). Usually in combination, these images are used to provide a comprehensive radiographic view of the teeth, and their supporting structures, and the jaws. In particular, dental panoramic radiography (DPR) provides a single comprehensive image of both jaws and adjacent maxillofacial structures. However, DPR images suffer the inherent limitations of all 2D projections such as variable magnification and superimposition of anatomical details. In addition, limited spatial resolution, patient positioning errors, and artifacts associated with rotational tomographic acquisition may produce distorted images that may misrepresent anatomic structures and create ghosting artifacts. Figure 42.1 shows two DPR images–one providing an excellent representation of the jaws (a) and a second with distortion due to incorrect patient positioning affecting interpretation (b).
