OREANDA-NEWS. RnR Market Research Offers Report by Research on US Market Report for Extraoral X-Ray Imaging 2016 - MedCore

A panoramic X-ray system displays the bone structure of the entire mouth on a single X-ray image. It includes the mouth and upper and lower jaws. These systems consist of a straight arm that holds the X-ray generator on the back end and an image capture screen, which holds the film, PSP plate or sensor, at the front end. The mechanism rotates around the patient's head, taking one seamless image and providing a full view of the entire structure of a patient's mouth. A panoramic X-ray is typically an alternative to taking a full-mouth series of a patient's mouth using intraoral X-rays, and can be performed much faster with less exposure to radiation. The large majority of panoramic X-ray systems sold in the U.S. are digital, which are rapidly replacing an older generation of analog systems. The market is becoming commoditized as prices of digital panoramic systems continue to decline. Dental offices that already own and operate a traditional analog film-based panoramic unit have the option of installing a retrofit kit that upgrades the system to function with digital technology.

A panoramic/cephalometric X-ray system consists of both panoramic and cephalometric projections. Cephalometric projections display side views of a patient's bone structure. They are primarily used by orthodontists to view the development of teeth in relation to the jaw. As of 2012, the market was saturated as most orthodontists had already purchased a panoramic/cephalometric X-ray system and had the option to upgrade to three-dimensional imaging with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanners. Many of the new generation panoramic machines now come with an optional cephalometric arm that allows for a quick upgrade should the dentist ever require cephalometric images.

Extraoral X-ray units, which are used in most dental offices, diagnose and monitor the health and development of a patient's jaw and skull. Dentists use the technology to gain a broader perspective of the development of a patient's mouth by examining the growth and health patterns of a patient's bone structures, such as the jaw and teeth. Extraoral X-rays differ from intraoral X-rays, which give more detailed X-ray images of a specific area of a patient's mouth. Extraoral devices are limited to providing only two-dimensional X-ray images and come in the form of panoramic systems and panoramic/cephalometric (pan/ceph) systems. Similarly to intraoral X-rays, extraoral X-ray images can be captured through the use of traditional analog film or digital methods, including PSP plates and digital sensors.