Introduction: In orthodontic practice to provide information such as axial inclination of teeth, maturation periods and surrounding tissues panoramic radiography is frequently used. This is usually the technique of choice because of its relatively low radiation exposure, patients’ comfort and significant amount of diagnostic information which is obtained by viewing all the teeth and basal bone at once. Therefore, panoramic radiography is essential orthodontic screening tool.

Aim: To determine whether the use of panoramic radiograph can be extended for evaluating dento-facial characteristics.

Materials and Method: Panoramic radiographs (OPG) and lateral cephalograms were obtained from 30 patients who includes 10 skeletal class I, 10 skeletal Class II and 10 skeletal class III patients were obtained and compared.

Results: The measurement obtained from panoramic radiograph when compared with their lateral cephalometric alternatives showed mild statistically significant difference. But with the help of regression equations obtained from this study it is possible to determine following cephalometric parameters using their panoramic constants respectively i.e Go-Gn/S-N using OMAND, Go-Gn/S-N using OCOND and ANS-PNS/Go-Me using OCOND with predictability percentage of 34.5%, 39.6% and 39.6% respectively.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that although panoramic radiograph can be used for assessing certain dentofacial characteristics using regression equation, the predictiblity percentage has been found to be very low. But considering radiation exposure twice for panoramic radiograph and cephalogram, panaromic radiograph can be used to assess certain parameters like Go-Gn/S-N for class II and class I also ANS-PNS/Go-Me in class I. Either left or right side measurements on panoramic radiograph can be used for assessing certain parameters instead of taking into consideration both sides separately because they are not significantly different.

Keywords: Panoramic radiograph, Dento-facial characteristics.

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Dr Chandrashekhargouda Patil M.D.S        

Professor, PDU Dental College, Solapur