What an OPG dental X-ray shows
On a single flat image, an OPG shows every tooth in the upper and lower jaw, the bone that holds them, the jaw joints at each side and the lower edge of the sinuses. It is the best quick way to see how many teeth there are, where they lie and whether any are missing or buried. People searching for "opg dental" or "what is an OPG X-ray" usually mean this panoramic picture.
Dentists use it to check wisdom teeth and their position (see our guide to impacted teeth), to find cysts or other changes in the jaw bone, to look at growing teeth in children, and to plan braces or implants. Our page on wisdom tooth pain shows why an OPG is the usual first step.
How an OPG is taken
You stand or sit with your chin on a small rest and bite lightly on a plastic guide so the head stays in the right place. You remove earrings, glasses, hearing aids and anything metal from the head and neck area. The machine then turns slowly around your head, and the whole process takes under a minute.
It is painless, and nothing is placed inside your mouth, so it is easy for people who gag with the small sensors. The key is to stay still. Movement blurs the image and can mean a repeat. Tell the dentist beforehand if you are or may be pregnant.
What an OPG cannot do
An OPG is wide, not sharp. Fine detail, such as early decay between teeth or a small change at a root tip, is shown better on a bitewing or periapical X-ray, which is why an OPG alone is not enough to find cavities. See our guide on the types of dental X-ray for how they compare.
It is also flat and slightly stretched, so it cannot show how thick the jaw is, where a nerve lies within the bone, or the three-dimensional position of a buried tooth. When that depth matters, as with implant planning or a deeply impacted tooth, the dentist may recommend a CBCT scan.
| Question | OPG | Small intraoral X-ray |
|---|---|---|
| Area covered | Whole mouth, both jaws and joints | A few teeth |
| Fine detail | Lower | Higher |
| Good for finding early cavities | No, not reliably | Yes (bitewing) |
| Good for wisdom teeth and overview | Yes | Limited |
| Placed inside the mouth | No | Yes |
OPG compared with a small intraoral X-ray: general information.
Cost
The fee for an OPG varies from one centre to another, and this guide does not quote a figure. Ask the clinic you are visiting what it covers and whether a copy of the image is given to you, since a good image can be reused by another dentist and saves a repeat.
Common questions
Is an OPG the same as a panoramic X-ray?
Yes. OPG stands for orthopantomogram, which is the name of the panoramic image. The words are used interchangeably in dental clinics.
Do I need an OPG before wisdom tooth removal?
Often yes. It shows the position of the wisdom tooth and how close it lies to the nerve in the lower jaw and the sinus in the upper jaw. The dentist may ask for a 3D scan as well if the tooth lies very close to a nerve.
Can children have an OPG?
Yes, when there is a clear reason, such as checking whether permanent teeth are present or planning braces. Dentists try to take only the pictures that will change what they do.
Why was I asked to remove earrings and my necklace?
Metal in the path of the beam leaves a bright shadow on the picture and can hide parts of the jaw. Removing it gives a clearer image and avoids a repeat.
About this page
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a quotation. Prices are prevailing Lucknow market ranges. Your own treatment and cost are determined after an examination. For questions about your own case, call +91 83036 12717.