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OPG and Lateral Ceph

Orthopantomogram, or OPG, is an x-ray which looks at the lower face, teeth, jaw joints and maxillary sinuses. The teeth are displayed in a long flat line. This x-ray is useful to demonstrate the number of teeth as well as their position and growth, and is particularly useful to assess teeth that have not yet surfaced, such as wisdom teeth.

Lateral Cephalogram (or Lat Ceph) is an x-ray of the side of your face with very precise positioning. This is done so measurements can be taken to determine the current and future relationship of the top and bottom jaw (maxilla and mandible) and therefore assess the nature of your bite. This is particularly useful to plan orthodontic treatment that may be necessary. As treatment progresses, it is helpful to have any additional Lat Cephs taken at the same practice so that the x-rays can be easily compared.

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FAQs

  • There is no preparation required for OPG or Lat Cephs.

    You will be asked to remove any jewellery or metal items from your head and neck area including hair accessories, dentures and plates.

  • You will be asked to stand inside the scanner while the scanner moves around your head.

    During your scan you may be required to bite onto a mouthpiece attached to the machine. Your radiographer will explain where and how to bite depending on the scan type.

  • This scan takes approximately 10-15 seconds and it will not touch you.

  • Due to the dose of radiation emitted, you will not be able to have this scan if you are pregnant.

How much will it cost?

Fees for radiology procedures will vary depending on a variety of factors. We will advise you about the cost of your service at the time of booking but if you do have any questions, contact us and one of our team will be happy to help with your query. You can read more about our billing information here.

How do I access my images?

At Queensland X-Ray, we provide our patients with their images and results online. To access your images and results, you’ll need to register for an account when you visit one of our practices. If you’ve already registered, you can access the Patient Portal here.

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