[The incidence of superimposition of permanent teeth in the orthopantomographs and in radiographs Status-X].

In this study 82 orthopantomographs and 82 Status-x radiographs of the same patients were evaluated in order to determine the incidence of superimposition of teeth in the two kinds of panoramic radiographs. The patients were 10 to 20 years of age and presented no crowding as judged clinically or from respective plaster casts. The results of this study showed that the superimposition occurs in 71.90% of the upper permanent teeth in the orthopantomographs and in 51.21% of the lower permanent teeth. In the Status-x radiographs the superimposition occurs in 54.87% of the upper permanent teeth. As regards localization the upper second premolars premolars showed the greatest incidence and the mandibular incisors the lowest incidence of superimposition in the orthopantomographs. In the Status-x radiographs the superimposition occurs more frequently in the upper canines and less frequently in the upper first molars. Comparing the two kinds of panoramic radiographs, it seems that superimposition is observed more frequently in the orthopantomographs by 17.03%.