Ontario dentists: 1. Radiologic practices and opinions

Area of Science:

• Dental Radiology
• Evidence-Based Dentistry

Background:

• Radiological practices in dentistry are crucial for diagnosis.
• Standardized protocols for selecting patients for X-ray examinations are recommended.
• Dentists' adherence to guidelines influences radiation exposure and diagnostic accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the radiological practices and opinions of general dentists in Ontario.
• To assess the current use of patient selection protocols for dental X-rays.
• To understand dentists' attitudes towards explicit guidelines for radiological examinations.

Main Methods:

• A mail survey was conducted in February 1991.
• The survey targeted general practitioners in Ontario, Canada.
• A response rate of 77% was achieved with 413 participants.

Main Results:

• 86% of dentists reported no written office policy for selecting patients for X-rays.
• 54% of dentists primarily used clinical experience for patient selection.
• 57% of practices took radiographs of asymptomatic patients after clinical examination.
• 56% of dentists opposed explicit guidelines for radiological examinations.

Conclusions:

• A significant gap exists in formal patient selection protocols among Ontario dentists.
• Reliance on clinical experience and opposition to guidelines suggest a need for improved education and policy implementation.
• Current practices may lead to inconsistent application of radiological guidelines and potential for unnecessary radiation exposure.