The use of panoramic radiographs to address the oral health needs of vulnerable Canadian populations.

Background: The high demand for oral health care services among vulnerable individuals combined with limited available resources requires a rethinking of the provision of oral health services. This study aimed to determine the usefulness of the dental panoramic radiograph (DPR) as an imaging tool to assess oral health and prioritize dental interventions in vulnerable patients.

Methods: This observational and retrospective study evaluated charts of patients who attended Public Health Dental Clinics (PHDC), Alberta Health Services (AHS), in Calgary, Canada, between January 2018 and December 2019. Data collected included sex and age at the time of image acquisition. The following radiographic findings were gathered: the number of missing, present, decayed, restored, and impacted teeth; periapical lesions; retained root; periodontal bone loss; odontogenic and non-odontogenic lesions in the jaws; carotid calcification; and incidental radiographic findings with clinical relevance.

Results: Of the 526 DPRs evaluated, 57.4% were from male patients and 42.6% were from female patients, with a mean age of 38.5 years. The average number of present teeth in females and males was 23.7 and 22.6, respectively. The most prevalent dental-related finding was periodontal bone loss (81.5%), followed by periapical lesions (59.6%) and impacted teeth (27%). Among non-dental findings, osseous lesions of the jaws were found in 10.4% of the patients, and carotid atheroma had a frequency of 3.2%.

Conclusion: The DPR is a useful adjunct to the clinical exam in this specific population. It provides an opportunistic overview of their oral health and necessary support to establish priorities in oral health care in a public health setting.