Panoramic Positioning Errors

Question 1

PROPER POSITION

Answer 1

Patient positioning and head alignment

Question 2

Have patients remove:

Answer 2

Dental appliances
Earrings
Necklaces
Hairpins
Glasses

Question 3

PROPER POSITION
(5)

Answer 3

• Teeth and jaws sharply depicted.
• Slight curvature of occlusal plane.
• Equal magnification on left and right side.
• No air space obstructing view of maxillary roots.
• No ghost image of cervical spine in midline.

Question 4

TOO FAR FORWARD
(2)

Answer 4

• Anterior teeth narrowed and blurred.
• Cervical spine superimposed on ramus.
  (double real image of cervical spine).

Question 5

TOO FAR BACK
(3)

Answer 5

• Anterior teeth widened and blurred.
• Inferior turbinates and meati spread across maxillary sinuses.
• Condyles close to or cut off side of image.

Question 6

CHIN DOWN
(5)

Answer 6

• Excessive curvature of occlusal plane.
• Roots of mandibular anterior teeth are blurred.
• Rami/condyles tipped inward.
• Condyles close to or cut off top of image.
• Hyoid bone superimposed on mandible.

Question 7

CHIN UP
(5)

Answer 7

• Flat occlusal plane or reverse curvature.
• Roots of maxillary anterior teeth are blurred.
• Rami/condyles tipped laterally.
• Condyles close to or cut off side of image.
• Hard palate superimposed on maxillary apices

Question 8

HEAD TURNED
(2)

Answer 8

• Unequal magnification of left and right side (teeth, ramus)
• Increased blurring and overlapping of contacts on one side

Question 9

When head is turned
to the right,
(2)

Answer 9

the
posterior left dentition
moves closer to the
sensor so the teeth will
project narrower on
the radiographic image

When head is turned to the right, the posterior right
dentition moves farther from the sensor so the teeth
will project wider on the radiographic image

Question 10

shifted jaw position to left;
(2)

Answer 10

●due to left side shift, posterior teeth on left side will be closer to the
sensor and project narrower on the radiographic image
●due to left side shift, posterior teeth on right side will be farther from
the sensor and project wider