Orthopantomogram (OPG) creates a panoramic X-Ray view of the mouth, teeth and bones of the upper and lower jaws.

X-Rays are still images (similar to photography) that allow our radiology team to see through the skin at the underlying bones and soft tissues for signs of any abnormality.

Your dentist or dental specialist requires special imaging of the teeth and jaw to visualise cavities, wisdom teeth, and will use it to accurately plan your treatment.

There are multiple types of dental imaging available depending on what your referring dentist or specialists needs to see. An OPG will take an entire view of your jaw and teeth. A TMJ series will take two sets of images, one with your mouth open and one closed, to see the joints in the jaw.  Cephalometry is used by orthodontists and specialists to measure the jaw and teeth for orthodontic planning.

We can proudly say that we are using the very latest technology in Digital X-Ray systems. This not only helps the speed of the examination, helping you get on with your day faster, but also reduces your radiation exposure by up to 30%.

You will need to remove any jewellery, or metallic objects from around the head and in the mouth before your exam. If you are pregnant, or if there is any chance you may be pregnant, it is important to tell your doctor and the radiographer before proceeding with your exam. This can make a difference to whether or not the staff decides to go ahead with your X-Ray or not.

Please bring any previous films with you for comparison.

You will be standing inside a special dental X-Ray machine that will rotate around your head while it takes the image. Depending on the type of picture, you may need to bite onto a small plastic post during the scan. This usually lasts anywhere between 5–15 seconds, and you will need to keep still during the entire scan.

It is important that you make an appointment to return to your doctor after you have collected your examination result. Whether they are normal or abnormal, your doctor needs to correlate with other information for further management.

Your result will include a copy of the images from your study as well as a report from our radiologist.

Depending on your referrer’s preference(s), a copy of the report can also be sent to your referring doctor by fax or electronic download.

Digital copies of all studies are stored on our secured database for comparison with any future examinations.