FRIDAY GLORY EBUBECHUKWU

Dental radiography serves as an essential diagnostic tool for detecting pathologies in the maxillofacial region. This study evaluates radiographic findings, diagnostic accuracy, and prevalence of maxillofacial abnormalities in a Nigerian tertiary healthcare facility. A retrospective review of 264 dental radiographic records from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (January 2024-January 2025) was conducted. Sociodemographic characteristics, radiographic modalities, clinical findings, pulpal/periodontal diagnoses, and diagnostic accuracy parameters were analyzed using SPSS version 28.0. Descriptive statistics and diagnostic accuracy measures (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall accuracy) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals. The cohort was predominantly young adults (25-35 years: 43.6%; 52.7% female). Pain was the primary indication for radiography (57.2%). Periapical radiographs were most frequently utilized (59.4%), with all imaging employing digital modality. Dental caries (22.7%) and irreversible pulpitis (17.0%) were the most prevalent clinical and pulpal diagnoses. Cysts or tumors were present in 15.7% of cases, including squamous cell carcinoma (2.2%) and ameloblastoma (1.1%). Radiographic image quality was diagnostic in 98.9% of cases. Diagnostic accuracy demonstrated sensitivity of 87.7-100%, specificity of 83.3-100%, and overall accuracy of 86.7-97.3%, with perfect accuracy (100%) for trauma/fracture detection and 97.3% for tumor/lesion detection. Well-defined lesion borders predominated (81.8%), suggesting predominantly chronic pathologies. Dental radiographs demonstrate substantial diagnostic utility for maxillofacial assessment in this tertiary facility, with high technical quality and diagnostic accuracy. The significant prevalence of caries, periapical pathology, and detected malignancies underscores the importance of radiographic screening protocols. Digital implementation and appropriate modality selection enhance diagnostic capability while supporting radiation safety principles. However, inherent two-dimensional limitations necessitate three-dimensional imaging for complex cases.