DENTAL RADIOGRAPHIC PRESCRIBING PRACTICES: SURVEY OF DENTAL HYGIENISTS IN THE U.S.

Publication date: January 2019

Source: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology, Volume 127, Issue 1

Author(s): K.B. MUZZIN, D.J. FLINT, E. SCHNEIDERMAN

Background

Potential harm from ionizing radiation has led to the development of guidelines to protect patients and practitioners from unnecessary radiation exposure; however, these guidelines may or may not be followed in practice.

Objective

This study surveyed U.S. dental hygienists with regard to radiology policies in the workplace.

Methods

The survey, consisting of 62 knowledge and practice items regarding use of dental radiography, was based on the 2012 publication by the American Dental Association (ADA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): "Dental Radiographic Examinations: Recommendations for Patient Selection & Limiting Radiation Exposure." The study was granted exempt status by the Texas A&M University–Baylor College of Dentistry (TAMU-BCD) institutional review board. The survey link was emailed to 10,000 subscribers of the Dimensions of Dental Hygiene magazine and posted on the magazine's Facebook page.

Results

Five hundred and seventeen dental hygienists completed the survey. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations, and χ² analyses. Approximately 46% of the respondents reported that the dentist determined the need for radiography, and 42% reported that the decision was made by the dental hygienist. The majority of respondents (82%) reported that a clinical examination was not performed before imaging, and 70% reported that images were ordered on the basis of a set time interval. Approximately 36% reported that images were requested on the basis of the patient's insurance reimbursement. For adult recall patients with no clinical caries or low caries risk, general and corporate dental practices made bitewing radiographs more frequently (every 12 months) compared with educational institutions (P < .05). In the case of children and adolescent recall patients without caries or low caries risk, for children, corporate dental practices made bitewing radiographs more frequently (every 6 months) compared with educational institutions (P < .05); for adolescent patients, corporate and general dental practices preferred to make bitewing images every 12 months, whereas educational institutions preferred to make bitewing images every 18 months (P < .05).

Conclusions

The findings of this study suggest that some dental practices are not strictly following the ADA/FDA guidelines with regard to frequency of radiographic exposures.

https://ift.tt/2GrZucq