Comparison between Panoramic Radiographic Techniques

A combination of Status-X (S-X) technique with single high resolution screens in vacuum-sealed flexible cassettes and Orthopantomograph, Model OP3 (OP3), technique with stationary anode and original Siemens Special screens was evalutated for periapical diagnostics. Both techniques were used on 110 patients with altogether 2,079 teeth. The percentage of uninterpretable apical areas was 27% with S-X, 57% with OP3, and 16% with the combination of S-X and OP3. The S-X gave a high diagnostic yield in the anterior regions, whereas OP3 was best in the lower molar region. The combination of Status-X and OP3 radiographs gave an interpretability of 80% or more for all groups of teeth except for upper molars, 36%. The concordance in periapical diagnosis between the two techniques was 88% or better, except for upper premolars, 80%. The results indicate that the combination of Status-X and Orthopantomograph, Model OP3, requires complementary intraoral radiographs in the upper molar region for periapical diagnosis.