OBJECTIVES: To assess current radiographic practices in dental teaching hospitals for the management of patients with periodontal diseases. METHODS: All 17 dental teaching hospitals in UK and Ireland were sent a questionnaire on radiographic equipment and radiograph selection currently used for assessment of patients with destructive periodontal diseases. Opinions were recorded for advantages and disadvantages of the most frequently used radiographic views. RESULTS: A 100% response rate was achieved. All hospitals used panoramic and specific periapical radiographs as one of their radiographic regimes for patients with periodontal disease. Fifty-three per cent of respondents most frequently took panoramic and selected periapical radiographs. Twenty-four per cent took full mouth periapical radiographs (FMPAs) most frequently and 18% took a panoramic radiograph alone. Twenty-four per cent of hospitals operated a protocol for selection of radiographs for periodontal patients. CONCLUSIONS: The most commonly used views taken to assess periodontal status are panoramic radiographs with selected periapicals. Few hospitals operate a protocol for prescribing radiographs.
OBJECTIVES: To assess current radiographic practices in dental teaching hospitals for the management of patients with periodontal diseases. METHODS: All 17 dental teaching hospitals in UK and Ireland were sent a questionnaire on radiographic equipment and radiograph selection currently used for assessment of patients with destructive periodontal diseases. Opinions were recorded for advantages and disadvantages of the most frequently used radiographic views. RESULTS: A 100% response rate was achieved. All hospitals used panoramic and specific periapical radiographs as one of their radiographic regimes for patients with periodontal disease. Fifty-three per cent of respondents most frequently took panoramic and selected periapical radiographs. Twenty-four per cent took full mouth periapical radiographs (FMPAs) most frequently and 18% took a panoramic radiograph alone. Twenty-four per cent of hospitals operated a protocol for selection of radiographs for periodontal patients. CONCLUSIONS: The most commonly used views taken to assess periodontal status are panoramic radiographs with selected periapicals. Few hospitals operate a protocol for prescribing radiographs.