General Radiographic Recommendations

Adherence to professional guidelines laws, and public health guidelines relative to all parameters of radiation safety practices is expected.^1,24,50

No radiographic screening is performed prior to a clinical examination.

The decision to provide any radiographic examination, including CBCT, must be justified and the benefit must outweigh the radiation risk.^2,50

All radiographs are examined for caries, calculus, bone loss, developmental or acquired anomalies, and pathoses per professional guidance.^2,50,52

Intraoral imaging is useful in dentoalveolar trauma but if the region of interest extends beyond the oral cavity, extraoral imaging may be necessary.^2,50,69,70

Radiographers must be trained in patient positioning, appropriate imaging techniques, patient preparation, and removal of metallic objects that could impact diagnostic image quality.^2,24,50

Clinicians, dental staff, and radiographers must be knowledgeable about radiation risks for imaging modalities and be able to communicate risks to patients.^2,24,50

CBCT is NOT indicated for caries detection.⁷¹