Introduction About Ortho Pantomo Gram

What is OPG? OPG stands for Orthopantomography. It is a special method for obtaining radiographs of the teeth-bearing jaws, both upper and lower. How is it different from regular X-ray machines? A regular X-ray machine cannot take detailed pictures of the jaw-bones. An OPG machine is specially constructed so that it rotates around the jaw-bones, thus giving us an extremely good idea about the structure of the jaw bones. Yes, xrays are used, but the method is totally different. In what situations are they needed? OPG x-rays are usually asked for by dentists, whether they be general dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons or prosthodontists/implantologists. Because OPGs give a bird-eye view of the teeth and the adjacent bones, they are useful in a wide-variety of conditions including infections, tumors, congenital abnormalities, pre-implant evaluation and trauma.

ABSTRACT As an orthopantomogram provides bilateral information, it seems to be an efficient tool for screening for arthropathy of craniomandibular disorders. An experimental model was designed and constructed to resemble a human mandible. By changing the position of the model in the horizontal plane of the orthopantomograph, nine different images were analysed for changes of vertical magnifications. Emphasis was put on large parts of the mandible like the condyle. In positions that had been altered less than 10 mm from the originally centred position of the mandible in the orthopantomograph, vertical differences between the left and right sides were less than 6%. Observed condylar asymmetries within a 6% difference might, therefore, be due to technical failures.