Survey of radiographic practices for periodontal disease in UK and Irish dental teaching hospitals

Objectives: To assess current radiographic practices in dental teaching hos pitals for the management of patients with periodontal diseases. Methods: All 17 dental teaching hospitals in UK and ireland were sent a que stionnaire on radiographic equipment and radiograph selection currently use d for assessment of patients with destructive periodontal diseases. Opinion s were recorded for advantages and disadvantages of the most frequently use d radiographic views. Results: A 100% response rate was achieved, All hospitals used panoramic an d specific periapical radiographs as one of their radiographic regimes for patients with periodontal disease. Fifty-three per cent of respondents most frequently took panoramic and selected periapical radiographs, Twenty-four per cent took full mouth periapical radiographs (FMPAs) most frequently an d 18% took a panoramic radiograph alone. Twenty-four per cent of hospitals operated a protocol for selection of radiographs for periodontal patients. Conclusions: The most commonly used views taken to assess periodontal statu s are panoramic radiographs with selected periapicals, Few hospitals operat e a protocol for prescribing radiographs.