Reducing positioning errors in panoramic radiographs: Impact of an educational video on tongue positioning.

Purpose: This study assessed the effectiveness of an educational video in reducing tongue positioning errors on panoramic radiographs.

Materials and methods: An educational video instructing patients on proper tongue positioning during panoramic radiograph acquisition was sent via WhatsApp (WhatsApp Inc., Menlo Park, CA, USA) at the time of appointment scheduling. Patients were instructed to view the video again before their appointment. Collected data included patients' sex, age, scheduling method, educational background, the necessity for panoramic radiograph retake, and the reason for retake. The frequency of retakes due to tongue positioning errors was compared with retrospective data from patients who did not receive the video, resulting in the evaluation of 1,088 panoramic radiographs. Descriptive data analyses were conducted, and simple and multiple logistic regression models were applied with a significance level of 5%.

Results: Of the 1,088 panoramic radiographs evaluated, 69 displayed tongue positioning errors. Of these, 53 radiographs were from patients without access to the educational video, whereas only 16 were from patients who had received the video (P<0.05). Patients without video access were 2.07 times more likely to exhibit tongue positioning errors than those who had access. The other variables assessed (sex, age, scheduling method, and educational background) did not significantly influence tongue positioning errors (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Providing patients with an educational video on proper tongue positioning significantly reduced tongue positioning errors on panoramic radiographs.