Pattern of Findings in Dental Radiographs at a Tertiary Hospital in Ghana
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54450/saradio.2025.63.2.987Keywords:
Dental radiographs, Oral health, Bitewing,, Panoramic,, Findings, OPGAbstract
Background: Dental radiographs are crucial for the diagnosis of oral diseases. This study investigates patterns in dental radiographs to enhance diagnostic precision.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a tertiary hospital in Ghana, examining 301 dental radiographs of patients between the ages of 5 and 60 years. Participants were selected purposively from individuals requiring dental treatment. The study predominantly used patients undertaking orthopantomograms (OPG) and periapical (PA) radiographs. SPSS version 25 was used to analyse data with descriptive and inferential statistical analysis (chi-square, Cramer’s V).
Results: Caries and radiolucencies were the most common findings (47.2%, n=142), followed by miscellaneous anomalies (22.6%, n=68) and bone loss (11.0%, n=33). Most common radiographs taken was OPGs (78.7%, n=237). This was used in detecting a wide spectrum of conditions. Dental caries was the most common pathology: 18-41 year group being most affected (52.8%, n=75/142). There was a significant association between radiographic and clinical findings (chi-square=172.837, p<0.001; Cramer’s V=0.309).
Conclusion: Dental radiographs, particularly OPGs, are essential for the diagnosis of prevalent conditions like caries and for facilitating comprehensive oral health assessments. Their diagnostic precision is underlined by the high radiographic-clinical correlation.
Implications for practice: Routine use of OPGs in dental practice can facilitate early detection and management of oral pathology, particularly caries, to achieve improved patient outcomes in radiography practice.
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