Dental Health Procedures & Treatments How Panorex X-Rays Are Used in Dentistry By Shawn Watson Shawn Watson Shawn Watson is an orthodontic dental assistant and writer with over 10 years of experience working in the field of dentistry. Learn about our editorial process Updated on December 24, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Edmund Khoo, DDS Medically reviewed by Edmund Khoo, DDS Edmund Khoo, DDS, is board-certified in orthodontics. He teaches full-time as a clinical associate professor at his alma mater, New York University College of Dentistry, is a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, and serves on advisory boards for the American Dental Education Association. Learn about our Medical Review Board Fact checked Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Angela Underwood Fact checked by Angela Underwood LinkedIn Angela Underwood's extensive local, state, and federal healthcare and environmental news coverage includes 911 first-responder compensation policy to the Ciba-Geigy water contamination case in Toms River, NJ. Her additional health-related coverage includes death and dying, skin care, and autism spectrum disorder. Learn about our editorial process Print A panorex X-ray is a two-dimensional X-ray used in the dental field. It displays both jaws, the upper and lower, as well as the teeth, on the same film at the same time. David Sacks / The Image Bank / Getty Images Uses Panorex films have several uses since they expose areas of the jaw that cannot be detected by traditonal x-ray film. The two-dimensional images are used by dentists for the following: Diagnose advanced periodontal disease Assess temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) Detect early oral cancer Orthodontic assessments of the jaw and tooth development including the number, position, and growth of all the teeth including those that have not yet surfaced. It is different from the small close up X-rays dentists take of individual teeth. Wisdom teeth impaction Assess dental restorations Detect sinus problems that cause tooth pain Dental surgery preparation Your dentist may also refer you to have 3D X-rays taken with newer X-ray machines. Process During the panorex X-ray, the patient is asked to bite down on a special tool that assists the operator in positioning the patients head in the correct position. The patient is asked to stay very still while the panorex machine travels around the outside of the patients head. The image is either displayed digitally on a computer or processed onto traditional X-ray film, to be used by the dentist. Your dentist may recommend a panorex every five years, or whenever necessary for your specific situation. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 4 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. RadiologyInfo.org. Panoramic Dental X-ray. Denistry.com. Panorex-Xray. Decisions in Dentistry. Optimal Panorex Imaging. Cigna. Types of Dental X-Rays and How Often You Need Them.