A panoramic X-ray, often called an OPG after the term orthopantomogram, shows all your teeth and jaws in one image. For most implant, crown and bridge plans it is the first thing a dentist wants to see, because it lets them judge a plan before you travel.
What it shows
It shows the teeth, the roots, the jawbones, the position of the sinuses and the nerve canal in the lower jaw. It reveals missing teeth, impacted teeth, large areas of decay and bone loss around teeth.
What it cannot show
A panoramic X-ray is a flat image and cannot show the width of the bone or small details. For implant planning a dentist may later want a 3D scan, called a CBCT, which shows the bone in three dimensions.
Why it helps before you travel
It lets a dentist give you a more accurate view of what treatment may involve, which makes the quote closer to reality and reduces surprises on arrival. Without one, any plan is provisional until you are examined.
How to get one
Many dental practices and radiology centres can take a panoramic X-ray. Ask your own dentist for a copy of any recent image, or book one at a radiology centre. It is usually a short appointment and is a low-dose examination.
How to send it safely
Digital copies are best, in the format you are given. Send them only through a secure link. We never ask for medical images by email. You upload them through an encrypted link after your coordinator has made contact.
If you do not have one
You can still start. A coordinator will explain how to get one, and a clinic can take a new image when you arrive if the dentist needs it.
The short version
A recent panoramic X-ray is the single most useful thing you can bring to a first consultation, but you can start without one.
General information, not medical advice. A qualified dentist decides what suits you after examining you.