Świadomość polskich lekarzy dentystów dotycząca stosowania zdjęć skrzydłowo-zgryzowych

Abstract

Background. Bitewing radiograph is one of three types of intraoral X-rays. It shows the crowns of upper and lower teeth at the same time and their marginal periodontium and it is more often used for the imaging of posterior teeth than incisors and canines. The main indication is the diagnosis of caries on the proximal surfaces, but also to evaluate the quality of dental fillings and the follow-up status of marginal periodontium.Objectives. The aim of this study was to verify dentists’ knowledge of this kind of imaging, the awareness of the indications for its use and the frequency of referral for such examinations.Material and Methods. A survey was conducted among 100 dentists working in Lublin and its surroundings. The questions included years of professional experience, possessing a specialization, frequency of use of bitewings in diagnosis and checking the knowledge of the radiograph’s anatomy and indications. The data was statistically analyzed.Results. Of 100 respondents, 57 people said that they had never referred any patient for a bitewing radiograph. As many as 79 doctors have not used such an examination in their workplace. There was neither a significant correlation between completed specialization and taking radiographs by dentists in their work place (p = 0.39), nor knowledge of the anatomy of bitewing radiographs (p = 0.43). For 26 respondents, bitewing is synonymous with occlusal radiograph, and 92.3% of them have work experience of more than 10 years. As many as 58% of the respondents did not know the indications to perform bitewing examination.Conclusion. The results of this survey show that dentists do not recommend bitewing examinations despite its obvious advantages. This may be due to the fact that many patients’ dental caries are already very advanced, thus frequently producing inflammatory changes of the apical periodontium, which are visible on periapical radiographs, but not in bitewings.