Appropriate imaging examination for a patient course for Dental Practitioners

The dentist has several options when choosing a radiograph, and should recognise which radiograph is most appropriate for a given pathology. The dentist should also be aware of the typical radiation doses and risks associated with these options.

Learning objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• name the various images that are used in the field of dentistry and explain how they are produced
• list the appropriate images for clinical situations and when they would be employed in primary and secondary dental care
• describe the benefits to the patient of selecting the most appropriate images
• identify the contra-indications of using radiation in dental imaging, and explain the harm that may result from some of these images
• explain the current regulations pertaining to the use of ionising radiation in dental practice

When a dentist examines a patient, one of the commonest aids to diagnosis is a radiograph.