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Is dental panoramic tomography appropriate for all young adults because of third molars?
Tommi Vesala1, Marja Ekholm2,3, Irja Ventä1
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to determine, if a dental panoramic tomograph (DPT) is appropriate for every young adult due to third molars.
Materials And Methods:
The study sample consisted of 217 university students (20% men and 80% women; mean age 20.7 years; SD ± 0.6 years) and included a questionnaire about symptoms caused by third molars, clinical oral examination of third molars, and a DPT. Subjects were divided into the following groups: subjects with a clinical indication for a DPT and subjects without such indication. The DPTs were then examined for findings regarding third molars.
Results:
Clinical indication for a DPT was observed in 64% of the subjects. Radiography revealed an additional 1.4% of the subjects with ≥1 radiographic signs of disease in relation to their third molars. Also, an additional 27% of the subjects had ≥1 other radiographic findings in relation to third molars that may have affected the clinical decision making.
Conclusions:
In our study population, clinically undetectable pathology cannot be considered as an indication for a DPT. However, if prevailing clinical practice supports preventive removals and detecting or monitoring of unerupted third molars, a referral to DPT can be considered as good clinical practice.
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