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

Objective. The purpose of this study was to assess the radiographic pr actices of general dentists with emphasis on the influence of educatio n on these practices. Methods. Data were obtained from a mail survey o f a stratified random sample of 963 general practitioners in Ontario, Canada, who graduated from the two provincial dental schools. Descript ive statistics were used, and associations were tested by Pearson's ch i(2) analysis. Results. The adjusted response rate was 80%. For the ne w patient, 62% of respondents chose a type of predetermined protocol w ith the panoramic/bite-wing survey as the predominant choice. Only 37% of respondents chose to prescribe selectively according to the patien t's needs. For recall patients, 55% of dentists used selective radiogr aphy, and of those who chose a protocol, the vast majority preferred b ite-wing radiographs only. Conclusions. Three influences on the dentis ts' choice of radiographic examination as suggested by the data were d ental education, ownership of a panoramic unit, and who exposed the ra diographs. These associations were statistically significant.