East
Street Dental Practice.
office (+44) 01258 452522
FREQUENCY OF RADIOGRAPHIC MONITORING
All patients should be individually assessed to determine both
their caries risk status and their periodontal disease risk status, in
order that both appropriate treatment and advice regimes may be
implemented, and to determine the frequency with which monitoring
radiographs should be prescribed. Caries Monitoring
High Caries Risk: It is recommended that all adults designated as high caries risk have six-monthly posterior bitewing radiographs taken until no new or active lesions are apparent and the patient has entered a new risk category.
Medium Caries Risk: It is recommended that all adults designated as medium caries risk have posterior bitewing radiographs taken every two years until no new or active lesions are apparent and the patient has entered a new risk category.
Low Caries Risk: It is recommended that all adults designated as low risk have posterior bitewing radiographs taken at two to three year intervals depending on the type (if any) of restorations already present. More extended intervals may be employed if there is explicit evidence of a continuing low caries risk.
Periodontal Monitoring
Diagnosis of periodontal disease (involving hard tissue) depends on a clinical examination reinforced by a radiographic examination. Bitewings offer both optimal geometry and fine detail about bone levels around teeth. In addition these radiographs can also be used for caries assessment, thus reducing the need for an additional radiation dose.
A panoramic view may offer a dose advantage over a large number of periapicals. Be aware of the limitations of panoramic radiographs especially with respect to fine details and supplement with periapicals at selected sites.
