1. A system for performing panoramic dental x-ray imaging, comprising: an x-ray source configured for exposing an object to be imaged to x-rays; an x-ray imaging device configured for producing multiple frames during at least part of the exposure; and a manipulator providing a rotational axis around which axis at least one of i) the x-ray source and ii) the imaging device, rotates along a circular or non-circular spline executing an exposure profile and during at least part of said exposure profile, x-rays are emitted by said x-ray source, the axis being located between a focal point of the x-ray source and the x-ray imaging device, wherein the x-ray imaging device has an active area with a long dimension (m) and a short dimension (n), a ratio of the long dimension to the short dimension being at least 1.5 (m/n>1.5); a storage and retrieval system for storing and accessing in a non-destructive manner, generated and irradiated frames, received from the x-ray imaging device, with a time delay of not more than one second from the time each frame was produced by the x-ray imaging device; and a processing unit operating a reconstruction algorithm reconstructing a panoramic layer from the stored and retrieved irradiated frames and displaying said panoramic layer no later than 10 seconds from the end of said exposure profile.