A retrospective study evaluating the use of the panoramic radiograph in endodontics

Patients are referred to the endodontist to have root canal therapy performed to treat pulpal and periradicular diseases. Routinely, the only radiograph to accompany the patient is the periapical radiograph. This radiograph is inadequate in the detection of asymptomatic pathosis that may be present in other areas of the maxilla and mandible. The military's readiness mission requires that a panoramic radiograph be part of the patient's dental record. In addition to its use for personal identification purposes, the panoramic radiograph is an excellent diagnostic tool that can give the clinician an overall view of the dentoalveolar structures. This retrospective study evaluated randomly selected panoramic radiographs and recorded the presence of radiolucent and radiopaque areas not evident on a referral periapical radiograph. The results of this study found a 4.2% occurrence of undiagnosed pathosis following additional radiographs and clinical examinations.