The American Dental Association has recommended that dental imaging be conducted only as necessary to limit exposure to radiation.
The recommendations were developed by an expert panel established by the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs. They were recently published in the Journal of the American Dental Association and in Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology.
Seven notes:
1. The recommendations expand upon those from 2012 to address specific clinical scenarios for using dental imaging.
2. The recommendations mark the first time the ADA has addressed planar dental radiography and cone-beam computed tomography, according to a Jan. 5 news release.
3. Erika Benavides, DDS, PhD, lead author and clinical professor in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, said dental X-rays should only be ordered after dentists have examined other documentation, including patients’ medical and dental histories, previous X-ray images and clinical exam findings.
4. The panel provided specific recommendations for the use of dental imaging for caries detection and periodontal disease management.
5. The new recommendations are organized based on the type of patient appointment, patient age, dental development stage and risk factors.
6. The panel also created recommendations for dental imaging in various dental specialties, including endodontics, orthodontics and oral and maxillofacial surgery.
7. The new guidelines come after the ADA updated its recommendations for radiography safety in 2024, which included the discontinuation of the use of lead abdominal aprons and thyroid collars when conducting dental X-rays.
