Arif KESKİN, Tayfun AYGÜN, Nevnihal AKBAYTÜRK, Ahmet SALBACAK
Journal of Basic and Clinical Health Sciences - 2026;10(1):89-96
Purpose: In dentistry, panoramic radiography is frequently utilized as a primary diagnostic tool due to its ability to visualize the normal and abnormal anatomy of the jawbones. This study aims to compare the ability of first-year and second-year dental students, who have not received radiographic training, to identify anatomically significant landmarks relevant to their profession when using illustrations versus panoramic radiographic images. Materials and Methods: The study involved 127 students from the Faculty of Dentistry. Twenty-four different anatomical structures significant in dental practice were marked using different numbers on panoramic radiographs and atlas images. Students were first asked to identify anatomical structures on panoramic images, then on atlas images. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS V27, with chi-square tests for categorical variables and Student-t test or Mann-Whitney U test for numerical variables. Results: The average accuracy rate for identifying anatomical points on atlas images was 61.21%, while on panoramic images it was 48.13%. Significant differences were observed between first-year and second-year students for several anatomical structures. The third molar tooth, canine, and pulp were the most accurately identified structures on both image types. Conclusion: Dental students correctly identified many significant anatomical structures in the oral and maxillofacial region. For anatomical points with lower accuracy rates, active learning methods should be developed in addition to traditional education to improve identification skills on radiographic images.
