General dentists from across the United States and Canada exchanged vital information today showing that dental X-rays, known as panoramic radiographs, used for oral health examinations, are effective in detecting some cases of clinically significant carotid artery stenosis, or blockages in the carotid artery, which can potentially lead to stroke. The findings were presented by Laurie Carter, DDS, PhD, professor and director of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and director of Graduate Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry at the Academy of General Dentistry’s (AGD) 53rd Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. Periapical or bitewing radiographs are commonly used by dentists to observe the entire structure of the mouth, including a patient’s teeth, roots, jaw and facial placement. These X-rays also can help determine the presence or degree of periodontal disease, bone infections and many abnormal growths, such as cysts and tumors. A panoramic X-ray reveals in greater detail the upper and lower teeth and parts of the jaw in a single image. More importantly, a patient’s carotid arteries, located on each side of the neck, pass through the region visualized on the panoramic X-ray, making it possible for a dentist to view these significant blockages, which appear as patchy white spots.
