Orthopantomography, also known as panoramic x-ray of the jaw and jaw, is an examination that shows all the bones of the mouth and its joints, in addition to all teeth, even those not yet born.
Although it is more commonly used to identify crooked teeth and plan the use of devices, this type of x-ray also serves to assess the bone's constitution of the teeth and their disposition, allowing to identify more serious problems such as fractures, including teeth, infections and even some tumors, for example.
Exam price
The price of orthopantomography can vary between 30 and 50 reais, but this value may vary according to the clinic where it is done. In addition, there are health insurance plans that cover this type of expenses.
How is orthopantomography done?
Orthopantomography is done as follows:
- Wear a lead vest to protect the body from radiation;
- Remove any metallic objects you have, such as earrings, necklace, ring or piercing;
- Place a lip retractor, which is a piece of plastic, in the mouth to remove lips from teeth;
- The face is correctly positioned on the equipment indicated by the dentist;
- The machine records the image which is then analyzed by the dentist.
After registration, the image can be seen in a few minutes and the dentist can make the most complete and detailed assessment of the health status of each person's mouth, guiding everything that may need to be done, such as canal treatment, removal of teeth, restoration or use of dental prostheses, for example.
Who should not take this exam
This test is very safe because it uses a very low amount of radiation and is not dangerous to health. However, pregnant women should inform the dentist and indicate if they have had any X-rays recently, to avoid accumulating radiation. Learn more about the risk of radiation during pregnancy and what tests can be done.
In addition, people with metal plaques on the skull should also inform the dentist before doing an orthopantomography.
