Photo: Pexels/cottonbro studio
Your dentist glances at a spot on the screen, then asks for an X-ray before saying anything more. If this is your first time hearing "OPG X-ray," the request can feel like an extra step tacked onto a simple visit. An OPG is a single wide scan that captures your whole jaw, both rows of teeth, the roots and the surrounding bone, in one image. At Dr. Pithadia's Dental & Healthcare Clinic in Sector 14, Kharghar, it's often the first real look at what's actually going on before any treatment plan gets made.
What an OPG X-Ray Actually Shows
OPG stands for orthopantomogram, though almost nobody outside a dental office calls it that. It's a panoramic scan, meaning the machine rotates around your head and captures every tooth in the upper and lower jaw on one flat image, rather than the small, single-tooth pictures you may remember from a filling appointment.
On that one image, we can see the position and condition of every tooth including ones that haven't come through yet, the level and density of the bone holding them in place, the nerve canals running through the jaw, the sinus cavities above the upper back teeth, and the jaw joints near your ears. It's less a photo of a problem tooth and more a map of the whole terrain around it.
Why It Comes Before an Implant, Root Canal or Full Mouth Plan
If you've been told you need one ahead of a bigger treatment, there's a reason it comes first rather than partway through. A plan built on what a tooth looks like from the outside is still a guess about what's happening underneath, and guessing is exactly what an OPG removes from the process.
Before placing a dental implant, the OPG shows how much bone is actually there to anchor it and where the nerve canal runs, so the post isn't placed somewhere it shouldn't be. Before a root canal, it shows the shape of the canals inside the root and whether infection has already reached the bone. And where several teeth need attention at once, as with a full mouth rehabilitation, it's often the single image the whole plan gets built around. Dr. Urvashi Pithadia, BDS, Prosthodontist and Cosmetic/Aesthetic Dentist with 9 years of experience, reads this scan alongside the clinical exam before any treatment is recommended, not after.
OPG X-Ray vs a Regular Dental X-Ray
Not every visit calls for a full panoramic scan, and it helps to know the difference. A regular dental X-ray, usually a small bitewing or periapical image, focuses tightly on one or two teeth and is what's typically taken to check a single cavity or the area right around one tooth. An OPG steps back and captures everything at once, which is why it's reserved for planning bigger treatment, checking wisdom teeth, or getting a fuller picture when something doesn't add up on its own.
What an OPG X-Ray Costs in Kharghar
Diagnostic imaging in Navi Mumbai generally starts from around ₹450, based on current lab pricing across the area. What you're actually charged depends on where the scan is taken (in-clinic or at an external imaging centre) and whether it's part of a wider consultation. At Dr. Pithadia's Dental & Healthcare Clinic, this is set out clearly at your visit rather than guessed at in advance, so you know exactly what you're paying for before the scan is taken.
When You Don't Need a Full OPG
An OPG isn't the automatic answer to every dental question, and it's worth saying so plainly. If you've come in for one tooth that's suddenly sensitive, or a small cavity your dentist can already see, a single small X-ray of that one area is usually enough. Reaching for a full panoramic scan every time would tell you more than the situation actually needs. At our Sector 14 clinic, the scan we suggest matches the question we're trying to answer, not the other way round. And there's no fasting, no numbing and nothing to arrange around it: you can head straight back to your usual Kharghar lunch spot the moment you walk out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an OPG X-ray safe?
Dental X-rays, including a panoramic OPG, use a low dose of radiation and are a standard, well-established part of dental diagnosis, as the American Dental Association notes. A lead apron is used during the scan as standard practice, and the images are taken only when they'll genuinely inform your treatment.
How often do you actually need one?
There's no fixed schedule that applies to everyone. It depends on your dental history, your age, and whether you're being assessed for something specific, such as an implant, a root canal, or wisdom teeth. Dr. Urvashi Pithadia will tell you whether an existing scan is still useful or a fresh one is genuinely needed, rather than repeating it out of habit.
Does an OPG X-ray hurt, or take long?
No. You stand or sit still while the machine rotates around your head, biting gently on a small guide to keep everything in position. The scan itself takes well under a minute and is designed for comfort throughout, with no injections and nothing that needs to numb.
Can I reuse an old OPG X-ray, or do I need a new one every visit?
If your last OPG is recent and nothing significant has changed since, it may still be useful, and Dr. Urvashi Pithadia will say so rather than asking you to repeat it unnecessarily. For treatment planning such as implants or a full mouth rehabilitation, a more current scan is usually needed so the plan reflects your mouth as it actually is now.
Can children have an OPG X-ray?
Yes, and it's often useful for checking how permanent teeth are developing under the gums, or spotting a crowded jaw early. As with adults, it's only taken when there's a genuine reason to look, using a low radiation dose appropriate for a child.
Do you offer OPG X-rays at Dr. Pithadia's Clinic in Sector 14, Kharghar?
Yes. OPG imaging is available as part of consultations for implants, root canals, extractions and full mouth planning at our Sector 14 clinic, so the scan and the treatment conversation happen in the same visit wherever possible.
Book an OPG X-Ray or Consultation in Sector 14, Kharghar
If your dentist has mentioned an OPG X-ray, or you'd simply like a proper look at what's happening under the surface before deciding on treatment, Dr. Urvashi Pithadia, BDS, Prosthodontist and Cosmetic/Aesthetic Dentist, will talk you through what the scan shows and what it means for your mouth specifically. You'll find Dr. Pithadia's Dental & Healthcare Clinic at 21st Floor, Kamdhenu Commerz, 2101-2103, Above Zudio, Sector 14, Kharghar, Panvel, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 410210. Message us on WhatsApp or book online.