November 4, 2014 at 7:00 am
Austin FraktMy dentist offered me bitewing x-rays yesterday. From the chair, I asked Twitter whether I needed them.
How frequently should patients with zero symptoms/prior issues receive various types of dental x-rays? Got unbiased evidence?
— Austin Frakt (@afrakt) November 3, 2014
I received two, informative replies. First, oral surgeon Sarah Davies, DDS, MD suggested annual bitewings and “maybe” panoramic x-rays every five years. Second, NYU Associate Professor Heather Gold pointed me to these ADA/FDA recommendations. If I’m reading them correctly (and this is based on just a quick look), I believe they recommend posterior bitewing x-rays on 1.5-3 year intervals.
Anyone with knowledge or references have anything else to say on this matter? Comments open for one week from date of posting.
P.S./pro tip: Future Austin or you can pull this post up for reference the next time the dentist offers x-rays. That’s why I’m posting this.
P.P.S.: More here, the upshot to which is don’t get bitewing x-rays annually.
Comments closed
by Sergio Uribe on November 4th, 2014 at 07:45
*FOR CARIES ASSESSMENT*
Frequency of radiographic caries examinations and development of dental caries. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11508131
Prediction of efficacy of bitewing radiographs for caries detection. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2326040
Caries risks and appropriate intervals between bitewing x-ray examinations in schoolchildren. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21318913