Frequency Distribution of Incidental Findings in Panoramic Images of Partially Edentulous Patients

A radiographic examination is a follow-up procedure that can reveal diagnostic information that is difficult to acquire through a clinical examination alone. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency distribution of the incidental findings from panoramic images of partially edentulous patients. This cross-sectional study used 385 panoramic images of partially edentulous patients. The images were evaluated for all incidental findings. The independent variables were dental status divided into dentulous and partially edentulous, patient age divided into three groups comprised of Group 1 (17–40 years), Group 2 (41–64 years), and Group 3 (65–87 years), sex (female or male), and the location of the incidental finding (maxillary or mandibular). The dependent variables were the type of incidental finding, which included impacted teeth, residual tooth roots, foreign bodies, radiolucent/mixed/radiopaque lesions, maxillary atrophy, and an abnormal mandibular cortical width (MCW). In order of frequency, the three most common incidental findings were a mandibular lower border width of <3.0 mm, radiolucent/mixed/radiopaque lesions, and maxillary atrophy. The highest proportion of incidental findings of impacted teeth was in Group 1. As for root remains, foreign bodies, radiolucent/mixed/radiopaque lesions, maxillary atrophy, and a mandibular lower border cortical width of <3.0 mm, these findings were most commonly seen in Group 3. The prevalence of having at least one incidental finding on a panoramic radiograph of a partially edentulous patient was relatively high at 71.95% (277 radiographs).