title: Panoramic radiographic examination: a survey of 271 edentulous patients.
abstract: The aim of this study was to quantify the frequency of positive radiographic findings in edentulous arches. Panoramic radiographs from 271 patients who were edentulous in one or both arches were evaluated for the presence of retained root fragments, impacted teeth, foreign bodies, radiolucencies, radiopacities, mental foramina at or near the crest of the residual alveolar ridge, and maxillary sinus proximity to the crest of the residual alveolar ridge. One or more of these radiographic observations were found in 51.7% of the examined films. The most frequent finding (30.6%) was close approximation of the maxillary sinus to the crest of the ridge. These results underscore the importance of panoramic examination of edentulous patients in detecting potential problems before complete denture treatment. However, prescribing such an examination in patients seeking replacement dentures requires a thorough patient history and clinical examination.
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Rehabilitation Department, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. prof_emadawad@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Emad Ahmed
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Awad
authors.forename: Ayman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Dharrab
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008437:Maxilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010026:Osteosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010482:Periapical Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011842:Radicular Cyst / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging