Caries, bitewings, and treatment decisions.
BACKGROUND
The most common adjunct to the visual and tactile clinical examination for dental caries is the bitewing radiograph. The aim of this study was to report on treatment planning decisions made by Victorian dentists when given a range of predetermined radiographic scenarios.


METHODS
A postal survey was conducted to obtain data from 550 dentists selected systematically (every fourth dentist) from the register of the Dental Board of Victoria (1996).


RESULTS
The survey response rate was 64 per cent. Fifty per cent of responding dentists selected an operative intervention for radiographic lesions confined to enamel.


CONCLUSIONS
A review of current dental literature does not support this approach because a large proportion of proximal tooth surfaces that have associated radiolucencies confined to enamel are not cavitated. This study supports the need for continuing education programmes on the management of dental caries; such programmes should follow an evidence-based model.
School of Dental Science, The University of Melbourne.
P L B
PL
Tan
R W
RW
Evans
M V
MV
Morgan
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003657:Decision Making; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D003804:Dentin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005460:Fluorides, Topical / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014739:Victoria
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D005460:Fluorides, Topical