Digital OPG (orthopantomography) is a type of dental X-ray that captures a panoramic view of the entire mouth, including the teeth, jawbone, and surrounding structures.

It is a valuable diagnostic tool for dentists and can help identify a range of oral health issues, from cavities and gum disease to impacted wisdom teeth and bone loss. However, to get the most accurate diagnosis from a digital OPG, it is important to know how to identify a good quality image.

In this blog, we’ll discuss some of the key factors to look for when evaluating digital OPG images.

Image Clarity:

One of the most important factors in identifying a good quality digital OPG image is image clarity. A clear and sharp image can help dentists identify even the smallest details, which is essential for accurate diagnosis.

When evaluating a digital OPG image, look for:

• Sharpness: The image should be sharp and in focus, with clearly defined edges and borders.
• Contrast: The contrast between the different structures in the image should be clear, with no areas that are overexposed or underexposed.
• Detail: The image should have enough detail to allow for accurate diagnosis, including the ability to zoom in and see fine details.
• Artifacts: The image should be free of artifacts, such as streaks or lines, that can interfere with interpretation

An image that meets these criteria is more likely to be of good quality and provide accurate diagnostic information.

Patient Positioning is another important factor in obtaining a good quality digital OPG image is patient positioning.

Proper positioning is essential to ensure that all areas of the mouth are captured and that the image is accurate.

When evaluating a digital OPG image, look for:

• Correct positioning: The patient’s head should be positioned correctly and held still during the scan.
• Symmetry: The image should be symmetrical, with no distortion or asymmetry that can affect interpretation.
• Coverage: The image should capture the entire mouth, including the teeth, jawbone, and surrounding structures.
• No motion blur: The image should be free of motion blur, which can occur if the patient moves during the scan.

Patient Positioning in OPG

If the patient is positioned correctly and held still during the scan, the resulting image is more likely to be of good quality and provide accurate diagnostic information.

Equipment Quality:

The quality of the equipment used to capture the digital OPG image is also an important factor in determining image quality. High-quality equipment can produce better images that are more accurate and easier to interpret.

When evaluating a digital OPG image, look for:

• High-resolution equipment: The equipment used to capture the image should have high resolution and be capable of producing sharp and clear images.
• Proper calibration: The equipment should be properly calibrated to ensure accurate results.
• No technical errors: The equipment should be free of technical errors, such as mechanical problems or sensor defects.
• Up-to-date software: The software used to process and analyze the image should be up-to-date and capable of producing accurate results.

If the equipment used to capture the digital OPG image is of high quality and properly calibrated, the resulting image is more likely to be of good quality and provide accurate diagnostic information.

One of the OPG machine which fulfils all the above-mentioned parameters is Genoray’s Papaya Slim OPG with inbuilt CUST feature, which is an additional benefit with the machine.

The machine is self-standing, floor- mounted with sleek body.

For patient positioning, the machine has been supported with temple support, chin rest and bite block along with 3 laser beam that is mid-sagittal line, canine line and Frankfurt plane which helps in proper placement of patient.

It has various inbuilt features which command the proper positioning of patients such as patient positioning for standard OPG, for TMJ view, for sinus view. It provides vocal commands to the operator as well as to the patient. It has an emergency switch button on remote control as well.

The best feature being the CUST feature which provides the cross-sectional images of a FOV of 5 X 5 X 10 cm. This can help in planning the single implant placement, determining the extent of lesions such as granuloma, cyst and so on. And the most important requirement of such high-end machine is Calibration and which is done by Service team. A strong backend team is with Genoray Papaya Slim OPG which helps in smooth functioning of the machine.

In short, OPG adds on clinical practice by providing overall screening of teeth, jaw and associated structures.

Conclusion

Digital OPG is a valuable diagnostic tool for dentists, but it’s important to know how to identify a good quality image to get the most accurate diagnosis.  A good quality digital OPG image should have clear image clarity, proper patient positioning, and high-quality equipment. By evaluating these factors, dentists can ensure that they are using the most accurate and reliable diagnostic tool available.