Evaluation of Soft and Hard Tissue Radiopacities on Panoramic Radiographs: A Retrospective Study

Objectives: Panoramic radiography is a widely used imaging modality in dentistry. Areas of increased mineral density within anatomical structures appear as radiopaque regions on radiographs. Radiopacities detected on panoramic radiographs may be associated with both physiological and pathological processes. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate common radiopacities observed in both hard and soft tissues on panoramic radiographs.Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 10000 panoramic radiographs to evaluate radiopacities in hard and soft tissues. Radiopacities detected on the radiographs were classified according to their radiographic characteristics. The distribution of radiopacities was analyzed according to age, gender, and anatomical localization. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.Results: A total of 1060 radiopacities were identified in 963 patients, including 284 (3.25%) in soft tissues and 776 (8.89%) in hard tissues. Tonsilloliths were the most common soft tissue calcification, whereas idiopathic osteosclerosis was the most frequent hard tissue radiopacity. Conclusion: Although most hard and soft tissue radiopacities are asymptomatic and do not require treatment, accurate diagnosis of certain lesions is clinically important. Therefore, systematic evaluation of panoramic radiographs is essential for the detection and appropriate management of these findings.