Selection Criteria in Dental Radiography
Encyclopedia
This is a seminal publication of the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK)
of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
.
The publication marked the standardisation of dental radiography
and now provides the dental profession with a set of evidence based
criteria in order to minimse radiation exposure to dental patients and staff.
Key recommendations were in the area of bitewing radiography where intervals between bitewing screening
radiographs checking for dental caries
between teeth were recommended based on patient risk
of disease. The patient is considered to be either High, medium or low risk of dental decay. The interval between bitewings is recommended to be either 6, 12 or 18 months plus accordingly.
The effect of this has been to ensure that via a process of clinical governance
and clinical audit
, the number of radiation exposures to patients is minimised, while allowing clinical decisions to be made based on good radiographs, improving patient outcomes.
The second edition of 'Selection Criteria for Dental Radiography' has been fully revised and updated. Several sections have been updated in light of new evidence and research findings while others, such as the use of digital radiography, have been expanded to reflect an increasing use in general dental practice. These selection criteria also conform to the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000, and help practitioners form a sound basis for clinical decisions.
Faculty of General Dental Practice
-History:The FGDP was formed in 1992 as the academic home for general dental practitioners. It opened its membership up to Dental Care Professionals in 2005, and now supports the whole dental team. As of March 2011 there are approximately 4500 members of the FGDP...
of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
Royal College of Surgeons of England
The Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body and registered charity committed to promoting and advancing the highest standards of surgical care for patients, regulating surgery, including dentistry, in England and Wales...
.
The publication marked the standardisation of dental radiography
Dental radiography
Dental radiographs, commonly referred to as X-ray films, or informally, X-rays, are pictures of the teeth, bones, and surrounding soft tissues to screen for and help identify problems with the teeth, mouth, and jaw. X-ray pictures can show cavities, cancerous or benign masses, hidden dental...
and now provides the dental profession with a set of evidence based
Evidence-based medicine
Evidence-based medicine or evidence-based practice aims to apply the best available evidence gained from the scientific method to clinical decision making. It seeks to assess the strength of evidence of the risks and benefits of treatments and diagnostic tests...
criteria in order to minimse radiation exposure to dental patients and staff.
Key recommendations were in the area of bitewing radiography where intervals between bitewing screening
Screening (medicine)
Screening, in medicine, is a strategy used in a population to detect a disease in individuals without signs or symptoms of that disease. Unlike what generally happens in medicine, screening tests are performed on persons without any clinical sign of disease....
radiographs checking for dental caries
Dental caries
Dental caries, also known as tooth decay or a cavity, is an irreversible infection usually bacterial in origin that causes demineralization of the hard tissues and destruction of the organic matter of the tooth, usually by production of acid by hydrolysis of the food debris accumulated on the...
between teeth were recommended based on patient risk
Risk
Risk is the potential that a chosen action or activity will lead to a loss . The notion implies that a choice having an influence on the outcome exists . Potential losses themselves may also be called "risks"...
of disease. The patient is considered to be either High, medium or low risk of dental decay. The interval between bitewings is recommended to be either 6, 12 or 18 months plus accordingly.
The effect of this has been to ensure that via a process of clinical governance
Clinical governance
Clinical governance is the term used to describe a systematic approach to maintaining and improving the quality of patient care within a health system. The term became widely used in health care following the Bristol heart scandal in 1995, during which anaesthetist Dr Stephen Bolsin exposed the...
and clinical audit
Clinical audit
Clinical audit is a process that has been defined as "a quality improvement process that seeks to improve patient care and outcomes through systematic review of care against explicit criteria and the implementation of change"....
, the number of radiation exposures to patients is minimised, while allowing clinical decisions to be made based on good radiographs, improving patient outcomes.
The second edition of 'Selection Criteria for Dental Radiography' has been fully revised and updated. Several sections have been updated in light of new evidence and research findings while others, such as the use of digital radiography, have been expanded to reflect an increasing use in general dental practice. These selection criteria also conform to the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000, and help practitioners form a sound basis for clinical decisions.