Measurements of tooth length in panoramic radiographs. 1. The use of indicators

The aim of this study was to investigate both the actual and the radiographic tooth lengths of the maxillary first molar and second premolar and the mandibular premolars in panoramic radiographs. The actual length of 64 extracted teeth was measured. Steel balls were then attached to the cusp and apex and the teeth embedded in plastic moulds. Each pair of plaster casts with their set of teeth was radiographed with an Orthopantomograph twice at an interval of 1 month. The actual and the radiographic tooth length was measured twice by one observer. The mean tooth length of the molar was shorter than that of the premolars. The mean difference between the repeated measurements of the actual tooth length was small and ranged between 0.47 and 1.16% of the tooth length. The mean difference between repeated measurements of the radiographic tooth length was also small, with a method error of 0.13-0.21 mm. The vertical magnification in panoramic radiography was lower for mandibular premolars (13-15%) than for the maxillary second premolar and first molar (17-28%). The palatal root of the maxillary first molar had the highest vertical magnification (28%). Following the second set of radiographs, the mean difference between the measurements was small, except for the palatal root of the maxillary first molar (P < 0.001). Radiographic measurements of this root should therefore be used with caution. The results for the other roots examined indicate that these could be measured with high reproducibility.