Is Dental Panoramic Radiography Reliable to Assess Position of Bicortical Fixation Screws in Mandibular Fractures? Case Report

Panoramic radiography is widely used as a diagnostic tool before oral surgeries and can be considered the foremost follow-up image after. It provides a broad observation of the maxillomandibular complex at a lower cost and radiation dose. But cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) examination, after panoramic radiograph evaluation, can produce a change in the diagnostic thinking of maxillofacial surgeons leading to alterations in treatment plans.

We aim to report a case with incidentally discovered radiographic findings where diagnostic changes were caused by switching from panoramic to CBCT imaging.

Radiographic assessment of the position and angulation of screws by panoramic x-ray should be approached with extreme caution. The image of choice is CBCT if nerve injury is suspected.