OPG (Orthopantomogram)

An OPG is a panoramic dental x-ray that takes one wide image that shows all your teeth, upper and lower jaws and the surrounding bone. It provides dentists and specialists with a complete picture of your oral and jaw health in one scan.

OPG is short for Orthopantomogram. It is also called a panoramic x-ray or a dental panoramic radiograph. It is the most commonly used full mouth imaging modality in dental and maxillofacial diagnosis.

What An OPG Scan Can Show? Tooth decay, impacted teeth (notably wisdom teeth), jaw bone abnormalities, dental infections, cysts or tumors in the jaw, gum disease, bone loss, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.

Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment (braces). Patients needing dental implants. Patients needing their wisdom teeth checked. Patients needing pre-surgical assessments. Patients having routine dental check-ups. Patients with jaw pain or you suspect you have problems with your jawbone.

You will be asked to stand or sit in front of the OPG machine and gently bite on a small mouth rest. Then the scanner rotates around your head for 15 to 20 seconds to build a full panoramic image. The procedure is completely painless and takes only a few minutes altogether.

Remove any metal items such as earrings, necklaces, hair pins and glasses prior to the scan as they can interfere with the image quality. No fasting or special preparation is required. Inform the technician if you are pregnant.

An OPG Scan uses a very low dose of radiation significantly less than a standard medical X-ray. It is safe for most patients including children and elderly people so is ideal for routine dental assessments.

A normal dental X-ray only shows 1-2 teeth at a time, but an OPG Scan gives you one panoramic image showing all the teeth, both jaws and surrounding bone in one go. OPG is more comprehensive and time-saving for overall dental diagnosis.

OPG Scan reports are produced quickly at Scans World, usually on the same day. Our expert radiologists provide accurate and detailed reporting to help your dentist plan your treatment.

Scans World is a trusted dental imaging centre in Chennai that provides advanced OPG Scans with digital technology, low radiation and quick report delivery. Our branches are at Aminjikarai, Nandanam (Chamiers Road) and Nanganallur.