title: Pre-operative diagnostic radiograph interpretation by general dental practitioners for root canal treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate which radicular radiographic features general dentists want to interpret, determine which of the radicular radiographic features general dentists interpret and which ones they miss in a diagnostic radiograph and correlate how accurately general dentists are able to interpret radiographic features.
  
  
  METHODS
  20 general dental practitioners were selected and given 2 sets of questionnaires. The first set asked them to fill out the findings they would elucidate in a diagnostic radiograph while the second set consisted of 30 randomly selected intraoral radiographs to interpret.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first set of questionnaires, more than 50% of dentists said they would interpret periapical changes, calcification, root curvature and the number of root canals. Less than 50% said they would interpret canal morphology, open apex, resorption, fracture, number of roots and lamina dura. In the second set of questionnaires, more than 90% missed grade 1 or 2 periapical changes (according to periapical index scoring), resorption and canal calcification. More than 80% of dentists missed extra roots and root curvature buccally while no dentists were able to interpret the periodontal ligament width changes, lamina dura and canal variation (C-shape). Using a paired t-test, there was significant variation in answers between the first set and second set of questionnaires.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded from this study that general dental practitioners are able to detect radiographic changes when they are extensive but they miss periodontal ligament width and lamina dura changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, CSI College of Dental Sciences, Madurai, India. anand.sherwood@gmail.com
authors.forename: I Anand
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Sherwood
mesh_terms: D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003481:Cuspid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003784:Dental Pulp Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008963:Molar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010483:Periapical Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011300:Preoperative Care; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing / Q000592:standards*; D012390:Root Canal Therapy; D012391:Root Resorption / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries
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