Accuracy of clinical diagnosis for the detection of dentoalveolar anomalies with panoramic radiography as validating criterion.

It is noteworthy that little attention has been paid to the balance between economy, discomfort, and risk to the patient (costs) and the clinical significance (benefit) of panoramic radiography as a routine screening procedure. This study used orthopantomographs to validate clinical detection of dentoalveolar anomalies in young children. It appears that 439 children (67 percent) were exposed without benefit from the radiography.