Occlusal Radiographs in a Turkish Pediatric Subpopulation.

Objectives: Dental radiographs are a useful diagnostic aid in the oral health care and dental treatment of children. The most commonly used radiographs are periapical and panoramic radiographs. Occlusal radiographs are preferred in more specific cases. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the reasons for obtaining occlusal radiographs in pediatric patients.

Material and methods: Occlusal radiographs of patients aged 1-13 years who attended the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic of Ondokuz Mayıs University Faculty of Dentistry between 01 August 2015 and 01 August 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients with syndromes and diseases that could cause cleft lip and palate and dental anomalies were not included in the study. The medical history of the 354 patients who were included in the study was provided by the automated system.

Results: A total of 359 occlusal radiographs from these patients were analysed. The number of male patients included in the study was 208 and the number of female patients was 146. Occlusal radiographs of the maxilla of 312 patients were taken, of the mandible of 37 patients, and both the upper and lower jaws of 5 patients. It was found that occlusal radiographs were taken mostly for dental trauma in the permanent dentition (156), injuries in the primary dentition (68) and for the diagnosis of dental anomalies (57).

Conclusions: Occlusal radiographs are taken for specific situations in pediatric dentistry and are particularly useful in the detection and diagnosis of primary and permanent tooth injuries.