Did you know why your dentist asks you to have an OPG X-ray (full mouth X ray) every two years?
Much pathology can be missed without taking this big picture /birds eye view x-ray of teeth , sinuses, TMJ and adjacent structures.
In fact we had a patient last week who presented to us for a second opinion regarding a dentigerous cyst associated with an impacted wisdom tooth. The patient had never had an OPG done despite a history of trigeminal neuralgia and seeing a medical specialist for her symptoms. Now the patient is requiring urgent care from an OMFS specialist before further damage to her jaw bone occurs. Please don’t ignore your dentist’s recommendations.
Most commonly missed are cysts/tumors associated with impacted wisdom teeth. These can be slow or rapidly growing and can cause significant damage to jaw bone and adjacent nerves.
Sometimes unexplained symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia or tinnitus can be symptoms discussed with GPs/ specialists but without dentist consultation and OPG the real cause can be easily missed.
So, we understand your concerns about minimising X-rays but not at the expense of missing important pathology with significant repercussions.
One OPG is equivalent to one day of natural background radiation.
If it’s time for you to see the dentist (and perhaps get an OPG), you can browse available times here or call us on (02) 4708 7007.
