PANORAMIC RADIOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION IN A GROUP OF EDENTULOUS PATIENTS

Aim: the aim of the study is to evaluate the frequency of positive radiographic findings in panoramic radiographs of edentulous patients living in eastern anatolian population. methods: for this study, panoramic radiographs of 283 edentulous patient attending to ataturk university faculty of dentistry, department of dentomaxillofacial radiology with variable complaint were evaluated. the radiograph were evaluated for presence of retained root, impacted teeth, radiolucent and radiopaque areas, maxillar sinus close to the crest of the ridge, mental foramen on crest, foreign bodies. result: approximately 53.4% of panoramic radiographs revealed no positive radiographic findings, while the remaining 46.6% contained 1 or more positive radiographic findings. the most widespread positive finding among the edentulous patients of the sample was the incidence of retained roots (18.7%). there were 81 retained roots in the jaws of 53 patients. according to the age-group of the population sample, it was found that the majority of positive findings belonged to the 50 to 60 year age groups. conclusion: routine panoramic examination of the edentulous jaws is necessary to detect impacted teeth, retained root fragments, and other radiographic findings that may require treatment before construction of complete dentures.