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Assessing the FDA guidelines for ordering dental radiographs
K A Atchison1, S C White, V F Flack
1University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dentistry, Section of Public Health Dentistry 90095-1668, USA.
Journal of the American Dental Association (1939)
|October 1, 1995
Summary
Dentists can reduce patient X-ray exposure by 43% using U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines. This approach maintains care quality while minimizing unnecessary dental radiographs.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Dental Public Health
Background:
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established guidelines in 1988 to reduce patient radiation exposure from dental X-rays.
- Adherence to these guidelines aims to maintain diagnostic quality while minimizing unnecessary radiation exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the 1988 FDA guidelines in reducing dental radiography frequency.
- To assess the impact of guideline-based radiography selection on diagnostic findings.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 490 patients was conducted.
- Radiographs were ordered based on the established FDA guidelines.
- The number of radiographs prescribed was compared to a standard full-mouth series.
Main Results:
- Dentists prescribed an average of 9.7 radiographs per patient, a 43% reduction from a full 17-film series.
- A low rate of missed radiographic findings was observed.
- Most missed findings had no impact on patient treatment decisions.
Conclusions:
- The FDA guidelines are effective in significantly reducing patient X-ray exposure in dental settings.
- Implementing these guidelines allows for decreased radiation dose without compromising essential diagnostic information or treatment planning.