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Panoramic dental X-ray (OPG)
panoramic X-ray · OPG · orthopantomogram · panorex · full mouth X-ray
One image shows all your teeth, both jaws, and the nearby bones at once.
Before dental treatment and extractions, before implants and braces, and to find hidden infection and wisdom teeth.
⏱ Duration: usually 5 minutes; the image itself takes 10 to 20 seconds; you get the image right away
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Prep. None needed. You can eat and drink.
- Metal. Take off earrings, necklaces, face piercings, hair clips, glasses, and removable dentures.
What to bring
- Your dentist's referral, if you have one
- Past dental X-rays
How it goes
- A protective apron is put on you
- You step into the machine and bite on a plastic piece
- You close your lips and press your tongue to the roof of your mouth
- The machine slowly moves around your head. Stand still
- The image appears on the screen right away
What you'll feel
- It does not hurt
- You just stand for 10 to 20 seconds
Afterwards
- You usually get the image right away, on a disc, a USB drive, or by email
- Take it to your dentist
Common questions
How much radiation is in a panoramic X-ray?
The dose is small, about the same as a few days of normal natural background radiation.
How is a panoramic X-ray different from a dental CT?
A panoramic X-ray is a flat picture of all the teeth. A CT is 3D and more detailed. It is ordered for implants and complex cases.