Radiological examination in oral implantology: study on imaging methods prescriptions

Abstract

Objectives. To establish the radiographic prescriptions in dental implant assessment amongst dentists in Roma­nia. Materials and method. Fifty-four dentists were in­ter­viewed during a dental meeting, using a 15-questions ques­tion­naire, regarding the imaging modality options for both preoperative implant site assessment and for follow-up. We took into consideration particularly the cost, the patient’s radiation dose for each imaging prescriptions, and the broad coverage of facial bones and teeth. Results. The majority of dentists (34) prescribed only panoramic radiographs for dental implant assessment, and 10 dentists (18.5%) ordered panoramic radiographs plus periapical radiographs and/or conventional tomography and/or cone beam computed to­mography (CBCT). Only three (5.55%) of the interviewed dentists prescribed conventional tomography or CBCT as a single examination, and seven of those interviewed preferred the combination of cone beam computed tomography or of conventional tomography with other imaging methods. In the frequency order, the main reason given for prescribing panoramic radiographs were broad coverage, cost, ac­ces­sibi­lity, and radiation dose. Conclusions. This study revealed that most of the Romanian dentists prescribe for dental implant assessment only panoramic radiographs. Thus, they are not following or ignore the recommendations of the international societies of dentomaxillofacial imaging regarding the use, in oral implantology, of the cross-sectional imaging techniques.