Are Panoramic Radiographs Reliable to Diagnose Mild Alveolar Bone Resorption?
2011

Reliability of Panoramic Radiographs for Diagnosing Mild Alveolar Bone Resorption

Sample size: 39 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Larissa Semenoff, Tereza Aparecida Delle Semenoff, Pedro Fabio Luiz Miranda, Evaristo Ricci Volpato, Maria Aparecida de Andrade Moreira Machado, Álvaro Henrique Borges, Alex Semenoff-Segundo

Primary Institution: UNIDERP and University of Cuiabá

Hypothesis

Are panoramic radiographs reliable for diagnosing mild alveolar bone resorption?

Conclusion

Small losses in height of the alveolar bone crest observed in panoramic radiographs may be overestimated.

Supporting Evidence

  • Statistically significant differences were found between conventional periapical and panoramic radiographs.
  • Digitized periapical and panoramic radiographs showed significant differences.
  • Digitized bitewing and panoramic radiographs also had significant differences.

Takeaway

This study looked at different types of dental X-rays to see how well they show bone loss. It found that panoramic X-rays might make small bone losses look worse than they really are.

Methodology

The study measured the distance between the enamel-cementum junction and the alveolar bone crest on various types of radiographs and compared them.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to the selection of radiographs and the evaluator's calibration.

Limitations

The study was limited to a small sample size and specific inclusion criteria.

Participant Demographics

Patients from a private practice in Jaciara, Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Statistical Information

P-Value

P = .03, P = .01, P = .02

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.5402/2011/363578

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