Determining the Incidental Pathologic Findings (IPFs) on panoramic radiographs before orthodontic treatments: A retrospective study

Background/Aim: Panoramic radiography is an imaging method that displays teeth, jaws and surrounding structures in two dimensions and is frequently used in the follow-up and treatment phase of patients. This study aims to determine the frequency of incidental findings (IPFs) in panoramic radiographs taken before orthodontic treatment. Material and Methods: In this retrospective study; A total of 330 patients (170 women, 160 men) aged between 7 and 49 years were included. IPFs were grouped into dental anomalies, radiopacities and radiolucent areas in the jaws, impacted teeth, and other anomalies in the jaws. Data were compared according to gender and age groups (6-12 years, 13-49 years). Results: Dental anomalies were detected in 90.6% of the panoramic radiographs examined. No statistically significant relationships were found between gender and dental abnormalities (p>0.05). The incidence of idiopathic osteosclerosis is 3.6%, and all of these people are men; It has been determined that people with sclerosing osteitis are mostly men and alveolar radiopacities are mostly not seen in women. It has been observed that patients are mostly between the ages of 6-12 in the absence of any dental anomalies. It has been determined that people with sclerosing osteitis are mostly between the ages of 13-49 and patients aged 13-49 mostly have alveolar radiopacities. It has been determined that patients with possible periapical or residual cyst and possible dentigerous cyst are mostly between the ages of 13-49, and patients aged 13-49 are mostly seen in radiolucent areas in the jaw bones. As a result of the analysis, a statistically significant relationship was found between age groups and IPFs (p<0.05). Conclusions: According to the results of this study, a high rate of dental anomalies were detected by evaluating panoramic radiographs before orthodontic treatment. Age and gender changes play a role in the presence of Incidental Pathologic Findings.