Positioning Errors in Panoramic Images Based on the Dentition Type of Patients Referring to the Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Department of Tabriz Dental School During 2017-2018

Panoramic imaging is a technique to create images of facial structures. Various factors affect the preparation of a high quality and proper panoramic image, such as the patient’s proper position. The aim of this study was to investigate positional errors in panoramic images based on the dentition type of patients referring to oral and maxillofacial radiology department of Tabriz Dental School

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Radiology Department of Tabriz Dental School in 2017-18. Dentition of patients (primary, mixed, permanent, complete edentulous) was determined by radiography. 410 radiography per group (1640 samples) were selected from the archives of Radiology Department by simple random sampling method. one radiologist evaluated all the images in the same condition and in a semi-dark room, in a 21-inch DELL monitor, regarding the presence of each of the positioning errors. Radiographs that were repeated due to positioning errors and poor diagnostic quality were classified as unacceptable radiographic images.

In primary, mixed, permanent and edentulous dentitions, not attaching the tongue to the palate were the most errors in the radiographies, with 50.4%, 65.6%, 64.3% and 64.8%, respectively. The presence of 2 errors (563 radiographies, 34.3%) had the highest frequency. 123 radiographies (7.5%) were free of errors. Primary dentition with 95 radiographies (23.2%) had the highest unacceptable radiographies, and edentulous dentition with 29 radiographies (7.1%) had the lowest unacceptable radiographies. Chi-square test indicated that this finding was statistically significant (P <0.001).

Positioning error has high prevalence in radiographic images, the most common of which is not attaching the tongue to the palate during radiography. In the primary dentition period, the number of acceptable radiographs was lower than the other periods.