An OPG machine is a panoramic scanning dental X-ray of the upper and lower jaw. Panoramic x-rays allow images of multiple angles to be taken to make up the composite panoramic image, where the maxilla (upper jaw) and mandible (lower jaw) are in the viewed area.

An orthopantomogram (OPG) is a common radiograph used to identify the hard tissues of the oral cavity and surrounding skeletal structures. It is an extra-oral radiograph that approximates the focal trough of the mandible.

X-rays use radiation to take pictures of bones and other parts inside the body. An OPG is a panoramic X-ray of the upper and lower jaws, including the teeth. The OPG unit is specifically designed to rotate around the patient's head during the scan. An OPG will take approximately 20 seconds.

Is dental OPG safe?

Yes, dental X-rays are safe and often extremely beneficial for your oral health”. As far as radiation is concerned, the amount to which you are exposed is minimal.

Decreased radiation, clearer image quality for diagnosis, and less wait time for the patients are some of the benefits of digital radiography. Digital X-ray equipment provides image quality that can surpass traditional film, bringing out tiny fractures and imperfections that might have been missed on film. Allows you to adjust the image for better visualization—the image can be enlarged, the contrast and brightness can be changed, and the image can be inverted or rotated. Errors in positioning and exposure can be corrected immediately without waiting for film processing.