Clinical justification of dental radiology in adult patients: A review of the literature

Although the radiological doses used by dentists are low individually, patients are often exposured to many repeat dental radiographic examinations. The ‘routine’ use of dental radiography, such as screening of all patients using dental panoramic radiography (DPRs) or a random decision to take a dental radiograph, will inevitable lead to unnecessary patient exposure. The use of Radiographic Referral Criteria has now become a legal requirement for all practitioners following the adoption of European Legislation. All exposures to x-rays should be clinically justified and each exposure should be expected to give the patient a positive net benefit. Recently the European Commission has published…