Intervals between bitewing examinations in young patients when applying a radiologic algorithm.

Every prescription of a radiograph should be based on an evaluation of the individual patient benefit. An algorithm developed to make it possible to individualize the frequency of bitewing radiographs was applied on a group of young patients in order to evaluate if its application could increase the time intervals between bitewing examinations. The time intervals between bitewing examinations actually performed on 221 patients from exfoliation of all primary teeth up to and including 18 yr of age were determined. The number of surfaces with carious lesions as well as restorations in the posterior approximal surfaces were diagnosed from the radiographs. The intervals between bitewing examinations according to the algorithm were estimated and compared to the actual ones. For most patients the time intervals between examinations increased when the algorithm was applied, without a concomitant risk of missing lesions developing into the deeper parts of the dentin. The results render support to an individualized scheduling of bitewing radiographs based on number of and extent of approximal lesions in baseline radiographs.