A new technique for imaging the temporomandibular joint with a panoramic x-ray machine: Part II. Positioning with the use of patient data

In the first article of this series, a new panoramic technique for visualization of the temporomandibular joint was described. In this article, it is shown that the patient positoning required for the implementation of this technique can be inferred from the gender, ethnicity, and bizygomatic width of the patient. Tables for estimating positioning in the Panoral panoramic machine have been derived from the analysis of data from 196 patients. Use of this approach eliminates the requirement for an additional submentovertex radiograph and the associated radiation dose to the patient.