Justification of imaging in dental clinics: does radiation knowledge play a role?

Abstract

The study aims to investigate dentists’ knowledge and consideration of radiation in relation to their referral practices and use of referral guidelines for imaging in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among dentists in different occupational positions in Saudi Arabia. The analysis showed that 68% of the dentists knew of imaging referral guidelines to consult before ordering an imaging exam. However, more than a quarter of the sample did not use them. More than half of responders estimated the average effective dose correctly for intraoral radiography, 44.8% for panoramic radiography, 53.4% for cone beam dental computed tomography (CT) and 47.8% for a study of dental implants/jaws using CT. Limited radiation knowledge and lack of use of proper referral guidelines among dentists indicate that the imaging referral justification process must be improved. The study concluded that radiation knowledge plays a critical role regarding image justification in dental clinics.