A survey of radiographic techniques and equipment used by a sample of general dental practitioners.

A study of radiographic practices of general dentists was conducted by mail survey. Eighty percent of 963 dentists returned completed questionnaires. All participants resided in the province of Ontario, Canada, and were graduates of either of the two provincial dental schools. Fewer than one third of radiographs were taken by the dentist with only 10% of dentists taking three fourths or more of the radiographs in their practices. There was infrequent use of E speed film (11%) and rectangular collimation (8%). Automatic processing was used by 93% of dentists. Although the overwhelming majority of dentists used a film holder, 2% still have the patient hold the film. The type of film holder used was affected by dental school experience, whereas the use of E speed film was not.