Utilization of radiographs for a state dental board examination.
A survey of 97 dentists who had recently taken a state dental board examination was completed to document the use of radiographs for the screening and treatment of their patients. The response rate was 53%. Candidates spent on average 14.25 hours screening a mean of 18 patients to identify the dental pathoses necessary to take the examination. Candidates took a mean of 28.9 (+/- 25.8) radiographs for screening purposes and during the examination with a range of 3 radiographs to a maximum of 141 radiographs. Time in practice and specialty status did not affect the total number of radiographic exposures made. The majority of radiographs taken (53%) were unlikely to be used in the direct care of the patient's dental needs. The results of this survey indicated that efforts to minimize administrative radiographs should be increased.
Potter
B J
BJ
Department of Oral Diagnosis and Patient Services, Medical College of Georgia, School of Dentistry, Augusta.
Powell
B J
BJ
Shrout
M K
MK
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008005:Licensure, Dental; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires