2D vs. 3D Panoramic Imaging

Dentistry has seen an astounding release of new imaging technologies that changed the way that dentists diagnose and deliver care to patients in the past 20 years. Long gone are the days when dentists stockpiled film cassettes in shielded boxes, warmed up automatic developers sensitive to temperature and fluid levels, and exposed patients to moderate levels of ionizing radiation. In the past decade, we have seen our film replaced by sensors, decreased radiation to our patients, and the introduction of a digital (virtual) representation of the dental environment.

This technology extends not only to intraoral films, but is now available in panoramic and cephalometric, and can provide either a 2-dimensional (2D) or 3-dimensional (3D) view of craniofacial images. However, like all technology that advances rapidly, there is confusion as to what advantages the new technology has over the traditional methods, not to mention the concept of 2D vs. 3D panoramic surveys. A 2D radiographic image is much like the traditional films made in the past. The exposure captures an image in a given plane, and measurements can be made in 2 axes, but it is still much like drawing an image on a piece of paper. The digital imaging software used to view these images often has filters and other systems to enhance bone density, caries detection, and graphic elements to draw on the film. Although this is a great advancement from the plane acetate film of the past, it is limited to the diagnosis and evaluation of a patient.