title: An analysis of the scientific basis for the radiographic guideline for new edentulous patients.
abstract: The FDA Radiology Guideline for the new edentulous patient recommends an initial survey of the arches. In the process of developing this recommendation, the expert panel reviewed the available literature and concluded that there was sufficient evidence to warrant screening radiography rather than selective radiography, which is the principle on which all the other recommendations are based. Our evaluation of the literature used by the panel for the edentulous recommendation identifies critical errors in the analysis of the data. Factors such as a vague definition of abnormality and a geographically diverse sample population might have led the expert panel to suggest a very conservative recommendation for this group of patients. The recommendation failed to consider the treatment impact of findings and was based simply on the large number of observations, regardless of their treatment or pathologic significance. However, in studies in which treatment is considered, it is clear that screening radiography for new edentulous patients does not yield sufficient clinically relevant information to support the guideline.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Medicine and Radiology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kogon
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Bohay
mesh_terms: D000571:American Dental Association; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration