Radiographic examinations as an aid to orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning

Seventy consecutive adolescents were examined to evaluate radiographic examinations as an aid to orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning in combination with clinical examination. The clinical examination included dental impressions and extra- and intraoral photographs. The radiographic examination comprised a panoramic radiograph, a lateral cephalogram and six intraoral anterior periapical radiographs. Initially, only records from the clinical examination were used for diagnosis and treatment planning. If required, the dentist could choose any of the radiographs to accomplish the task. The number of radiographs ordered, the sequence of ordering and any change in diagnosis and treatment plan caused by the radiographs were registered. In 29% of the cases the initial diagnosis, based on the clinical examination, study models and photographs, coincided with the final diagnosis. In 93% of all cases the initial treatment plan coincided with the final one. Although the panoramic examination was the most common choice, it had only a minor effect on diagnostic and treatment decisions, while the cephalometric examination had a major impact on the diagnosis. In most cases the clinical examination, supplemented with study models and photographs, can provide adequate information for orthodontic treatment planning. The result stresses the importance of using individually based selection criteria for radiographic examination in order to prevent radiographs being obtained routinely.