The relationship of bone loss observed on panoramic radiographs with clinical periodontal screening.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between bone levels observed on dental panoramic tomographs (DPT) and the WHO/FDI recommended periodontal screening technique: the community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN). Computer enhancement and digital analysis were used to improve accuracy and reliability. A total of 199 posterior sextants on DPT radiographs from 50 patients (29 female and 21 male) with a mean age of 42 were examined. A statistically significant relationship was found between CPITN and radiographic measurement from the cemento-enamel junction to the alveolar crestal bone margin (A). The relationship between A and CPITN was found to fit the following equation: square root of A = beta 1 + F, where, F is constant and beta 1 is the coefficient corresponding to the i the codes of CPITN. It was concluded that there was a close correlation between the CPITN screening codes and bone loss as measured on the DPT radiograph.