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Published September 2026

1 of 4You stand still and bite gently on a small guide
  1. You stand still and bite gently on a small guide
  2. The arm circles around your head. Nothing touches you
  3. One wide picture forms: both jaws, all the teeth, the sinuses and the jaw joints
  4. It is the picture used when the whole mouth needs to be seen at once

Who usually does it

general dentist. Available in most general offices and all oral surgery and orthodontic offices.

One question worth asking

Does this picture replace the smaller X-rays, or are both being taken?

Panoramic X-ray

Check-ups and X-raysBasicD0250D0260D0330D0701

A panoramic X-ray is one wide picture of both jaws, all the teeth, the sinuses and the jaw joints, taken by a machine that circles your head. It is common before wisdom tooth removal, implants or braces.

The machine circles your head once and the whole picture takes under a minute. Because it shows both jaws, the sinuses and the jaw joints in one image, it is common before wisdom tooth surgery, implant planning or braces. It gives the wide view rather than fine detail, so small decay is easier to see on a bitewing.

Codes for this

D0250BasicOutside-the-mouth X-ray, first pictureA plain X-ray taken from outside the mouth that is not a panoramic, for example of the jaw from the side.per image · Rarely doneD0260BasicOutside-the-mouth X-ray, each extra pictureEach additional outside-the-mouth picture after the first.per image · Rarely doneD0330PreventivePanoramic X-rayThe standard wide picture of both jaws; plans usually treat it like a full mouth series for timing.per image · Done oftenD0701PreventivePanoramic X-ray, picture onlyThe panoramic picture is taken here but read by another dentist.per image · Rarely done

Related

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Panoramic X-ray: what happens, step by step | TruthMolar