[Bitewing examinations as a part of preventive dentistry--a review]

For an optimal treatment of approximal caries lesions it is important to rely on a safe diagnosis. Bitewing examinations are an aid for detecting hidden lesions in the approximal surfaces. Other techniques for this purpose are fibre-optic transillumination (FOTI), digital imaging fibre-optic transillumination (DIFOTI), electric resistance measurement, laser fluorescence measurement and tooth separating. Since no direct view on approximal surfaces is feasible the detection of approximal lesions in the clinical examination is mostly insufficient. For a systematical controlling of the different grades of caries lesions, a time schedule for examinations is useful. For such a schedule, a couple of factors, such as caries risk of the patient or fluoridations, seem to be important. This article gives a survey of recommendations found in the literature to optimise the arrangement of bitewing examination in the therapeutical concept of caries monitoring and treatment planning.