Abstract

BACKGROUND Panoramic radiography is one of the most common techniques for evaluating the jaw bones and associated structures. AIM The aim of the study was to predict the actual length of the premolar teeth, based on measurements taken on a panoramic radiograph. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was done in two stages. In the first stage, the actual and panoramic lengths of 102 teeth of orthodontic patients were measured and compared. In the next stage, the actual and radiographic vertical lengths of four metal balls placed in the molar and first premolar areas of 27 patients, referred to radiography clinic were also analyzed. Comparison of the mean magnification between the two methods was performed by one-sample T-test and P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS The total magnification of the premolar region in the vertical plane in the tooth length measurement method was 17.39%, while the same in the metal markers method was 27.39%. The upper teeth showed larger magnification than the lower teeth in the vertical plane. Similarly, the magnification and distortion of the metal markers in the horizontal plane were significantly more than this in the vertical plane and also their magnification and distortion in the molar region were more than this in the premolar region. The actual length of the premolar teeth can be estimated by using a suitable regression formula. CONCLUSION Panoramic radiography can be used for calculating the actual length of premolar teeth.