SURVEY OF RADIOGRAPHIC PRACTICES OF GENERAL DENTISTS FOR THE DENTATE ADULT PATIENT

Objective. The purpose of this study was to assess the radiographic practices of general dentists with emphasis on the influence of education on these practices. Methods. Data were obtained from a mail survey of a stratified random sample of 963 general practitioners in Ontario, Canada, who graduated from the two provincial dental schools. Descriptive statistics were used, and associations were tested by Pearson's chi(2) analysis. Results. The adjusted response rate was 80%. For the new patient, 62% of respondents chose a type of predetermined protocol with the panoramic/bite-wing survey as the predominant choice. Only 37% of respondents chose to prescribe selectively according to the patient's needs. For recall patients, 55% of dentists used selective radiography, and of those who chose a protocol, the vast majority preferred bite-wing radiographs only. Conclusions. Three influences on the dentists' choice of radiographic examination as suggested by the data were dental education, ownership of a panoramic unit, and who exposed the radiographs. These associations were statistically significant.