Ontario dentists: 1. Radiologic practices and opinions

In February 1991, about 10 per cent of Ontario's general dentists were polled via a mail survey to gather information about their radiological practices and opinions. Responses were received from 413 out of 537 general practitioners, for a response rate of 77 per cent. A large majority of dentists (86 per cent) have no written office policy and/or protocol for selecting patients for X-ray examination, and just over half (54 per cent) primarily use clinical experience to select patients for these examinations. In the majority of practices (57 per cent), radiographs of asymptomatic recall patients are taken after both their history and clinical examination are complete. A similar percentage (56 per cent) of dentists are opposed to explicit guidelines for radiological examinations.