Cosmetic "Gold Thread Therapy": A Nuisance That Decreases the Diagnostic Quality of a Dental Panoramic Image

During routine imaging of the craniofacial region, it is recognised that some "cosmetic" procedures with metallic insertions can be revealed radiographically. These objects however make it difficult to obtain a good interpretation of anatomical structures for management of diseases. A 58-year-old female patient visited a private dental facility in Kuala Lumpur for prosthodontic replacement of missing teeth. The dental panoramic image revealed generalized bone loss and numerous unusual multiple thread-like radioopacities. These gold threads made radiographic evaluation difficult and complicated the process of treatment planning for dental implant placement advocated for this patient.