Fruit leather, chewing gum help reduce errors in panoramic imaging

The study included 270 patients referred to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology in the Faculty of Dentistry at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The participants were randomly divided into a control group, a celluloid matrix group and an edible tapes group. Before undergoing panoramic imaging, all the patients were instructed to press their tongue against their palate. The patients in the celluloid matrix and edible tapes groups were additionally asked to place celluloid tape, fruit leather or chewing gum on their tongues before doing so. The researchers then performed routine imaging and compared the results across all groups to evaluate the incidence of palatoglossal air space shadow error.

According to the findings, high-quality radiographs were captured for 75.5% of the edible tapes group. In contrast, high-quality radiographs were obtained for 60.0% of the celluloid matrix group and only 36.6% of the control group.

Cherry Agustin, the editor-in-chief of Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, commented in a press release that the results could help patients by reducing the need to recapture radiographs. “When a person can’t hold their tongue in place and the radiographer needs to retake the [radiograph], the patient has to spend more time and money, and gets exposed to more radiation,” she noted.

“Fruit leather […] can help get the [radiograph] right the first time, and also tastes delicious,” she added.

The study, titled “Effect of using different strips on reducing the most common error in panoramic imaging: A randomised controlled trial on palatoglossal air space shadow”, was published in the June 2024 issue of Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences.