Radiographic examination of edentulous mouths

Many dentists routinely make radiographs of edentulous patients who request replacement dentures. In the American Dental Associations' Guide to Dental Health, the public is informed that "an x-ray examination is performed only when necessary, not as a routine procedure, and only when the dentist believes such an examination will benefit your health." In light of the changing patterns of the incidence of disease and the cumulative effects of radiation exposure, a study was made of 300 edentulous ridges of dental patients. The study was confined to patients who were treated elsewhere with maxillary and mandibular dentures and who requested new dentures. Patients who had some clinically apparent finding that required radiographic investigation were excluded from the study. Only one impacted tooth that required extraction was found. The diagnosis of edentulous patients seeking treatment with replacement dentures should include a thorough patient history and clinical examination. When radiographs are indicated, they should be made but their routine use in such patients should be discouraged.