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What is included in a standard BeamReaders Radiology Report?

Every BeamReaders dental radiology report is prepared by an oral and maxillofacial radiologist and tailored to the clinical question submitted with the scan. This article outlines what is included in a standard report for each study purpose so you know exactly what to expect.

Every Report Includes

Regardless of study purpose, every standard BeamReaders report includes:

  • A panoramic reconstruction
  • Evaluation of the clinical concern indicated at submission
  • Identification of pathosis, gross decay or dental disease, bone loss or periodontal disease, and periapical pathosis
  • Explicit confirmation of negative findings for the area of interest, so you can be confident the region was thoroughly evaluated
  • Carotid artery calcification screening, if requested at time of submission
  • Documentation of incidental findings when present

Our radiologists provide diagnostic recommendations (such as recommending additional imaging, biopsy, or clinical recall). Treatment recommendations fall outside the scope of a diagnostic consultation service and are not included in reports.

By Study Purpose

The clinical question you select at time of submission determines the scope and focus of your report. Below is what each study purpose includes in addition to the standard elements listed above.

Airway

Evaluation includes:

  • Airway lumen assessment across all segments: nasal fossae, nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx
  • Nasal fossae: external and internal valve, nasal septum, masses, turbinates, mucosal thickening, ostiomeatal unit patency
  • Nasopharynx: encroachments including inferior turbinates, adenoids, and masses
  • Oropharynx: encroachments including tonsils, tongue, soft palate, masses, and ridge dimensions
  • Supporting structures: jaws, spine (degenerative joint disease, morphology, exaggerated curvature)

Images included:

  • Panoramic reconstruction
  • Airway dimensions (cross-sectional area in mm²)
  • TMJ cross-sectional and multiplanar reformatted views

Scan acquisition note: Airway studies should be acquired in maximum intercuspation with a neutral spine (not flexed or rotated) and the tongue adapted to the palate. If positioning affects diagnostic quality, your radiologist may note this in the report.

Images of the sinus and nasal cavity are included at no additional charge when specifically requested.





Endodontic (Small Volume / High Resolution, 0.10 mm or less)

Evaluation includes:

  • Periapical pathosis
  • Auxiliary lateral canals and root perforation
  • Root fracture
  • Root resorption
  • Canal constriction and dilation
  • Gross evaluation of obturation (if applicable)
  • Maxillary sinus evaluation (when applicable)
  • Relationship of the indicated tooth with cortices, sinuses, nasal fossae, canals, foramina, and adjacent teeth

Images included:

  • Panoramic reconstruction (when possible)
  • Images of positive and relevant findings for the tooth indicated at submission

Note: If the referring clinician does not indicate a specific tooth, image selection is at the radiologist's discretion. If findings are negative, the report will still include an impression of the specified tooth.





Endodontic (Medium or Large Volume / Low Resolution, greater than 0.10 mm)

Evaluation includes:

  • Periapical pathosis
  • Grossly displaced root fracture
  • Gross root resorption
  • Gross evaluation of obturation (if applicable)

Images included:

  • Panoramic reconstruction
  • Images of positive and relevant findings for the tooth indicated at submission

Note: If the referring clinician does not indicate a specific tooth, image selection is at the radiologist's discretion. If findings are negative, the report will still include an impression of the specified tooth.





TMJ (Large Volume)

Evaluation includes:

  • Cortical integrity, trabecular pattern, volume loss, condylar shape (including anatomic variants), hypo/hypertrophy, and spatial relationships
  • Identification of sources of pain by region: dentition and jaws, sinuses, ear, spine
  • Preliminary airway analysis
  • Gross assessment of jaw growth (asymmetry, hyper/hypoplasia)
  • Gross assessment of occlusion (obvious super eruption, tipped teeth, curve of Wilson/Spee)

Images included:

  • Panoramic reconstruction
  • TMJ cross-sectional and multiplanar reformatted views
  • Airway views (if abnormal findings are present)





TMJ (Small Volume)

Evaluation includes:

  • Cortical integrity, trabecular pattern, volume loss, condylar shape (including anatomic variants), hypo/hypertrophy, and spatial relationships

Images included:

  • TMJ cross-sectional and multiplanar reformatted views





Orthodontic

Evaluation includes:

  • Full TMJ evaluation (as described under TMJ, Large Volume)
  • Full airway evaluation (as described under Airway)
  • Eruption pattern assessment
  • Identification of supernumerary teeth, missing teeth, and impacted teeth

Images included:

  • Panoramic reconstruction
  • TMJ cross-sectional and multiplanar reformatted views (if abnormal findings are present)
  • Airway views (if abnormal findings are present)

TMJ and airway images for negative findings are available upon request at no additional charge.





Implant

Evaluation includes:

  • Dimensions of the implant site: height and buccolingual width
  • Mesiodistal dimensions (if compromised)
  • Bone quality at the implant site
  • Maxillary sinus and ostiomeatal unit assessment (if applicable)
  • Relationship of the implant site with sinuses, nasal fossae, canals, foramina, adjacent and opposing teeth and canines, and submandibular fossae

Images included:

  • Panoramic reconstruction
  • Cross-sectional and multiplanar reformatted views of the implant site with identification of the nerve or sinus floor (if applicable)





Impaction

Evaluation includes:

  • Relationship of the tooth (crown and roots) with adjacent teeth, sinuses, nasal fossae, canals, and cortices (if applicable)
  • Identification of potential etiology for impaction, including supernumerary teeth, cysts, odontomas, and tumors
  • Evaluation of follicle abnormalities
  • Root resorption
  • Barriers preventing movement of the impacted tooth into the dental arch
  • Anatomic variations that may complicate extraction

Images included:

  • Panoramic reconstruction
  • Nerve relationship views (if applicable)
  • Sinus relationship views (if applicable)





Pathosis

Evaluation includes:

  • Identification or rule-out and characterization of: location, size and shape, border characteristics, density and internal characteristics, and effect on adjacent structures

Images included:

  • Panoramic reconstruction
  • Cross-sectional and multiplanar reformatted views of affected areas
  • Key radiographic features (if applicable)
  • Images to assist with localization for biopsy (when appropriate)





A Note on Clinical Terminology

Certain conditions, including NICO, CFO, CIBD, and FDOJ, cannot be identified radiographically due to insufficient radiographic criteria. When findings are present in these regions, our radiologists describe them objectively (such as altered trabeculation, cortical thinning, or reduced density) rather than applying clinical diagnostic labels. This ensures the report remains grounded in what the imaging can support.



Radiology Report Add-Ons

You can choose to include additional options on a per-report (a la carte) basis. These pre-built add-ons, such as next-day rush, time point comparisons, and image portfolios, carry a nominal additional fee to account for the added time invested by our Oral and Maxillofacial Radiologists beyond the standard radiology report as outlined here.



Practice-Specific Reporting Needs

We recognize that every practice has unique clinical workflows and preferences. If your reporting needs extend beyond what is outlined here or the default add-on options, our team can work with you to develop a reporting approach tailored to your practice. Contact us at brsupport@beamreaders.com or (916) 771-3505 to start that conversation.