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Published on: July 22, 2022
Panoramic radiographs made before complete removable dental prostheses fabrication: A retrospective study of
Richard J Kratz1, Joanne N Walton2, Michael I MacEntee2
1Private practice, Victoria, BC, Canada.
Statement Of Problem:
The value of digital panoramic radiographs to screen for problems before fabricating conventional complete dentures is unclear.
Purpose:
The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine the influence of pretreatment digital panoramic radiographs on the clinical management of patients receiving complete removable dental prostheses.
Material And Methods:
The clinical records, including panoramic radiographs, of 169 patients seeking new complete removable dental prostheses over a 6-year period were interpreted independently by both a prosthodontist and an oral and maxillofacial radiologist to identify radiographic findings that influenced clinical patient management. A 95% confidence interval and an observed proportion of agreement were used to interpret the results.
Results:
Sixty percent of the 169 radiographs examined had 1 or more abnormal or positive radiographic findings; however, only 6 (<4%) of 165 abnormalities detected influenced patient management, and 3 of them were identified during the clinical examination.
Conclusions:
Pretreatment digital panoramic radiographs revealed very few abnormalities that influenced the treatment of patients requiring complete removable dental prostheses. Furthermore, the digital images in this study revealed positive findings at a rate similar to those found in studies assessing analog radiographs, reinforcing current guidelines that recommend against radiographic screening of patients who seek new complete removable dental prostheses.
