Panoramic X-rays

If you've had dental X-rays, you know how beneficial they can be in finding cavities. But what about dental problems not pertaining to your teeth? Now there's a dental X-ray that can help your dentist see other areas of your mouth. Much like a panoramic picture, the Panorex X-ray provides a full view of the scenery -- in this case, your entire oral cavity!

A Room With a View

The Panorex X-ray is a single picture of all your teeth and surrounding bones. Sometimes referred to as a single FMX, or full mouth X-ray, the Panorex provides a two-dimensional panoramic view of your mouth. The resulting X-ray includes more than just a couple of teeth at a time -- and is an excellent alternative to the tiny pictures your dentist has to piece together to see a complete set of your teeth.

The Panorex X-ray also exposes parts of your jaw that can't be seen with traditional dental X-rays. With a Panorex single FMX, your dentist can view:

• Your entire upper and lower jawbone
• Your temporomandibular joints (TMJ), or jaw joints
• The nasal sinuses and their surrounding bone
• The mandibular nerve, which provides sensation to the teeth and gums of the lower jaw

The Ultimate Experience

If you haven't had a Panorex X-ray yet, you should know it's nothing like you've experienced before. While you'll still wear a lead apron to protect yourself from radiation, you'll stand in the center of the machine. The camera rotates in a half circle around your head, staring at one side of the jaw and ending at another. For a clear picture, you'll need to remain still; don't worry -- it only takes a few seconds for the process to complete.