The use of panoramic radiography in a dental accident and emergency department.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the rate of appropriate requests for panoramic radiography (PR) in a Dental Accident and Emergency Department and the implications for patient dose.


METHODS
Two hundred and seventy-one requests for PR during July 1998 were assessed by two dental radiologists and categorised as appropriate or inappropriate based on established selection criteria. Incidental findings that might alter patient management were also noted.


RESULTS
One hundred and fifty-seven requests (58%) were considered appropriate and 114 (42%) inappropriate. The most common inappropriate request was to assess disease localised to one or two teeth. Dental students were involved in 186 requests and 76 of these (41%) were inappropriate. The estimated saving in collective radiation dose over the month of the study if appropriate radiographs had been taken, would have been approximately 540 microSv, a reduction of 70%. Three out of 114 (3%) inappropriate, PRS showed minor incidental findings.


CONCLUSIONS
A considerable proportion of requests for PR were inappropriate. In most of these cases, periapical radiographs would have provided more detail with less radiation dose. The large number of inappropriate requests involving dental students has implications for educators. The use of local selection criteria based on currently accepted guidelines would have reduced the dose substantially.
Sewell
J
J
Department of Dental Radiology, Guy's King's and St Thomas's Dental Institute, London, UK.
Drage
N
N
Brown
J
J
D003657:Decision Making; D003796:Dental Service, Hospital; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D007571:Jaw Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015588:Observer Variation; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D018579:Patient Selection; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013335:Students, Dental; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014962:X-Ray Film